University of North Carolina Athletics
Johnson A Finalist For Oscar Robertson Trophy
February 29, 2016 | Men's Basketball
CHAPEL HILL – University of North Carolina senior forward Brice Johnson is one of 11 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, given by the United States Basketball Writers Association to the men's basketball National Player of the Year.
The Orangeburg, S.C., native leads Carolina in scoring (16.9 ppg), rebounding (10.4 rpg), blocked shots (35), field goals (196), free throws (97) and field goal percentage (.616). He leads the ACC in field goal percentage, rebounding and double-doubles (17) and is the only player in the Power 5 Conferences to rank in the top 20 in all three of those categories.
Johnson is the only player in the ACC shooting better than 60 percent from the floor. He is on pace to become the third Tar Heel to average a double-double in points and rebounds and shoot 60 percent (with Mitch Kupchak in 1975 and Bobby Jones in 1973) and the fifth Tar Heel in the last 39 years to average a double-double (with John Henson in 2011, Tyler Hansbrough in 2008, Sean May in 2005 and Antawn Jamison in 1998).
He has scored 25 or more points five times this year and has five games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. He established career highs with 39 points and 23 rebounds in a win at Florida State in early January. He has won ACC Player of the Week honors three times and National Player of the Week honors twice.
Johnson is one of three ACC players among the final 11 candidates for the Robertson Trophy along with Duke's Grayson Allen and Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon. He is also one of six seniors to be finalists.
Voting is conducted by members of the USBWA. The USBWA is comprised of over 900 sports journalists covering college basketball for newspapers, magazines and websites.
The USBWA Player of the Year awards will be presented on April 11 at the College Basketball Awards gala and dinner at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
2016 OSCAR ROBERTSON TROPHY FINALISTS
Grayson Allen, Duke
Malcolm Brogdon, Virginia
Kris Dunn, Providence
Buddy Hield, Oklahoma
Brice Johnson, North Carolina
Georges Niang, Iowa State
Jakob Poeltl, Utah
Ben Simmons, LSU
Tyler Ulis, Kentucky
Jarrod Uthoff, Iowa
Denzel Valentine, Michigan State
