SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – University of Denver men's basketball guard 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 Denver sophomore was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year and to the All-Summit League First Team, while graduate student Jeremiah Burke was named to the Summit League's Honorable Mention list.
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).
Denver Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Specialty Awards in the Modern DI Era:
Carson Johnson – 2025-26 Summit League Player of the Year and Summit League Newcomer of the Year
Sebastian Akins – 2024-25 Summit League Freshman of the Year
Chris Udofia – 2013-14 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year
Chris Udofia – 2011-12 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Yemi Nicholson – 2005-06 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year
Yemi Nicholson – 2004-05 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year
The Ankeny, Iowa, native 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).
Denver's Modern DI Era League First Team Honorees
2000 – Wahhab Carter – Sophomore - Forward – Sun Belt First Team
2005 – Yemi Nicholson – Junior – Center – Sun Belt First Team (Sun Belt Player of the Year)
2006 – Yemi Nicholson – Senior – Center – Sun Belt First Team
2009 – Nate Rohnert – Junior – Guard – Sun Belt First Team
2010 – Nate Rohnert – Senior – Guard – Sun Belt First Team
2012 – Chris Udofia – Sophomore – Forward – Sun Belt First Team
2013 – Chris Udofia – Junior – Forward – WAC First Team
2014 – Chris Udofia – Senior – Forward – Summit League First Team
2014 – Brett Olson – Junior – Guard – Summit League First Team
2018 – Joe Rosga – Junior – Guard – Summit League First Team
2024 – Tommy Bruner – Senior – Guard – Summit League First Team
2026 – Carson Johnson – Sophomore – Guard – Summit League First Team (Summit League Player of the Year)
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 three-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 (stathead). The DU guard's 18, 20-plus point games leads Denver, which is second in the country in 20-point games with 40 (BYU – 45).
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 three-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). The Denver point guard 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's five honors in the 2023-24 campaign for the most by a Pioneer in the Summit League era.
Burke finished 13th in the Summit League in scoring at 13.8 points per game across the 16 league contests. The former North Dakota State forward also finished eighth in the league in rebounding (5.8), 10th in field-goal percentage (42.9%), seventh in three-point makes per game (2.4) and 10th in minutes played (32.6). Burke is second on the team in 20-plus point games this season with nine.
UP NEXT:
Denver opens the Summit League Tournament in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Friday when the Pioneers take on third-seeded North Dakota in the fourth quarterfinal. Opening tip is set for 8:30 p.m. CT/7:30 p.m. MT on Midco Sports and the Summit League Network.
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