DENVER – University of Denver men's basketball sophomore guard Carson Johnson has been named to the CSC Academic All-America Third Team, the organization announced on Tuesday. The three-team announcement consists of only 15 total players from across the country that have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and on the basketball court.
Johnson is the seventh Denver men's basketball student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors, and the first since Brian Stafford received third team recognition in the 2011-12 campaign. The Ankeny, Iowa, native is the first underclassman to earn the award in the program's history. In the athletic department overall, Johnson is the 72nd Pioneer student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors.
List of Denver Men's Basketball's Academic All-America Selections
First Team – Joe Fisher – 1986-87 (senior)
First Team – Brett Starkey – 2002-03 (junior)
Second Team – Erik Benzel – 2004-05 (senior)
Second Team – Brett Starkey – 2003-04 (senior)
Third Team – Patrick Boyle – 1992-93 (senior)
Third Team – Brian Stafford – 2011-12 (senior)
Third Team – Carson Johnson – 2025-26 (sophomore)
Following the 2026 Summit League Tournament, Johnson announced that he was returning to the program for his junior season in 2025-26 (READ HERE).
Denver's first conference player of the year since 2004-05, Johnson averaged 20.1 points and 3.0 assists in 35.6 minutes per game in his first season with the Pioneers. Johnson put his name all over Denver's single-season record book, finishing the campaign second in Denver's Modern DI history in scoring (642), fourth in field goals made (210), third in three-pointers made (87), sixth in free-throws made (135) and fifth in free-throw percentage (88.2). Combining both of Denver's eras at the top level of college basketball that was interrupted by stints in both the NAIA and the Division II level, Johnson's 642 points rank fourth in program history.
In addition to becoming the second conference player of the year in the program's modern DI era, Johnson was only the second conference Freshman or Newcomer of the Year in the program's modern DI era. Johnson also became the 12th all-league first team selection, and just the fifth in Denver's stint in the Summit League. The Ankeny, Iowa, native was the third underclassman to be named to an all-league first team in DU's modern DI era, joining Wahhab Carter (Sun Belt – 2000) and Chris Udofia (Sun Belt – 2012).
Having played and started in all 32 games, Johnson finished with 18 games with 20-plus points, including 10 of his last 12 in the regular season. Johnson ranked in the top-10 in the country to end the regular season in most 20-plus point games. On February 15, Johnson reached 1,000 carer points in just his 51st career game. If all 51 games had been played at Denver, Johnson would hold the Pioneers' DI record for the fastest to 1,000 career points. Johnson is on pace to reach 1,000 career points in a Denver uniform in 50 games, two games faster than Pioneer record holder Tommy Bruner (2022-24).
Denver men's basketball, along with eight other Pioneer athletic programs, will join the West Coast Conference next season. Secure season tickets for Denver's first season in the WCC today by clicking here.
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports.
Like Denver Men's Basketball and Denver Pioneers on Facebook
Follow @du_menshoops and @DU_Pioneers on Twitter
Follow @du_mhoops and @DenverPioneers on Instagram
