The University of Akron Athletics
Nate Johnson Named MAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year
March 12 | Men's Basketball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced the All-Conference awards on Wednesday, March 12 as University of Akron guard Nate Johnson was named the
MAC Player of the Year as well as MACÂ Defensive Player of the Year.
Johnson headlined a bevy of awards won by the Zips. With Johnson's Player of the Year award, it's the first time in Akron history the Zips have claimed back-to-back MAC PotY honors (Enrique Freeman, 2024; Nate Johnson, 2025) and the first time in the MAC since Buffalo (Javon McCrea, 2014; Justin Moss, 2015) won the award in consecutive seasons.Â
Nate also becomes the first player in program history to be named both the MAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season and the first player in the MAC since Bonzi Wells (Ball State, 1998).Â
Johnson led the Zips in the regular season with 13.5 points and 1.9 steals per game. He averaged 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.5 blocks per game while scoring in double-figures a team-leading 23 times and scoring 15 or more points in 11 games. Johnson led the team in assists nine times and recorded five games of five or more assists. He led the Zips in rebounding eight times and was also named to the All-MAC First Team and was named the MVP of the Akron Basketball Classic earlier in the season.
