Former Ankeny basketball star Carson Johnson has been named the Summit League Men’s Basketball Player of the Year, the league office announced on Tuesday in a vote of the league’s coaches, media members and sports information directors.
The University of Denver sophomore guard was also named the league’s Newcomer of the Year and to the all-Summit League first team.
Johnson is just the second Pioneer to earn conference player of the year honors in Denver’s modern D-I era, joining 2005 AP All-American Yemi Nicholson, who earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year honors after his junior season. Johnson’s Newcomer of the Year honor is the program’s second Newcomer or Freshman of the Year in the modern D-I era, joining Sebastian Akins (2024-25).
Johnson is the program’s 12th all-league first-team honoree, including just the fifth in the Summit League era. Johnson is the third Denver underclassman to be named to an all-league first team, joining Wahhab Carter (Sun Belt – 2000) and Chris Udofia (Sun Belt – 2012).
In 31 games overall this season, Johnson is leading the Pioneers in scoring at 20.2 per game, in minutes at 35.7, in assists with 94 and in 3-point makes with 85. Johnson has 18 20-plus point games this year, including 10 in his last 12, and is currently tied for ninth in the country for most 20-plus point games.
Johnson has instantly inked his name in the DU record books, becoming just the third Pioneer in the program’s modern D-I era to score 600-plus points, moving into second in Denver’s single-season record book in total points last week with 625. The Minnesota State Moorhead transfer also enters the Summit League Tournament fourth in field goals made (207), third in 3-pointers made (85) and seventh in free throws made (126). Combining all of Denver’s stints at the top level of college basketball in the program’s history, Johnson enters his first postseason with the program ranked sixth in single-season scoring.
In Denver’s game at Omaha on Feb. 15, Johnson reached 1,000 career points in just 51 combined career games from his time at MSUM and Denver. If all 51 games had been played at Denver, Johnson would hold the program’s DI record for the fastest to 1,000 career points, reaching the milestone one game faster than Tommy Bruner did (52 – 2022-24). He is on pace to reach 1,000 career Denver points in 50 games.
Johnson earned three Summit League Peak Performer of the Week awards during league play, putting him in second behind Bruner’sfive honors in the 2023-24 campaign for the most by a Pioneer in the Summit League era.
Denver opens the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Friday when the Pioneers take on third-seeded North Dakota in the fourth quarterfinal. Opening tip is set for 8:30 p.m.