Johnson, who is leading the Wildcats with 14 points per game on 48.6 percent shooting and 41 percent from three, is just one of two Southeastern Conference players on the list, with the other being Tennessee’s Admiral Schofield.
Villanova’s Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, Michigan State’s Denzel Valentine, and Arizona’s Stanley Johnson are just a few of the past recipients of the award.
The 6-foot-6 forward out of South Hill, Virginia, has led the Wildcats in points in a team-high-tying five games with 20 or more points and a team-high-tying 17 games in double figures. He has drilled 31 three-pointers (second on the team behind Tyler Herro) and averages 5.