HCAC Names Johnson as Top Male Athlete in January

GREENWOOD, Ind. – Defiance College’s C.J. Johnson helped the HCAC-leading Yellow Jackets to a 6-1 record in January and has been named as the HCAC Male Athlete of the Month. The monthly award is voted on by the sports information directors of each league institution.

Johnson bolstered his position as the HCAC’s leading scorer by netting 19.4 points a night over seven January contests, while adding 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals an outing.

The senior guard had the hot hand from long distance and made three or more treys in all but two games, while connecting at a torrid 52.8-percent clip. Johnson also shot 53.0 percent from the floor and was 29-of-30 from the free-throw line.

The accurate shooting performances led to Johnson scoring in double figures in all seven games, topping the 15-point plateau in five of those games and leading DC in scoring five times.

Johnson’s January accomplishments also included being named as the HCAC Player of the Week and continuing his ascent up DC’s all-time scoring chart. Johnson was awarded the weekly recognition from the HCAC on Jan. 28 after netting 21.5 points, 6.0 boards and 3.0 assists in Defiance’s victories over Hanover and Manchester and became the 22nd player in DC history to surpass the 1,200-point barrier with his 19-point effort against Franklin on Jan. 16.

The Toledo, Ohio, native currently leads the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference with 18.5 points per night and an 89.4 free throw percentage. Johnson also ranks second in the league with 2.1 steals and 2.6 makes from beyond the arc per night and is 12th in the nation with his 48.6-percent shooting from three-point range.

With five games remaining in the regular season, Johnson is just seven points shy of reaching 1,300 for his career. Johnson is only 52 points away from becoming one of the top 15 scorers in school history and the only player in DC history to rank among the top 15 in scoring and the top five in assists.

Johnson joins Anthony Pettaway and Luke Dillon as DC’s third male athlete to be named as the HCAC Male Athlete of the Month for the 2007-2008 season.

Johnson and the Yellow Jackets (14-6, 9-2 HCAC) will be back in action on Saturday when play at Rose-Hulman in a 3:00 pm clash.