Avery Johnson (2006) - Hall of Fame - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame

Early Life & Education

Born March 25, 1965, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Attended St. Augustine High School (New Orleans) where he helped lead the team to a 35-0 record and a Louisiana Class 4A State Championship as a senior.
After high school, he played at New Mexico Junior College and then at Cameron University (Lawton, Oklahoma) before transferring to Southern University.

College Career at Southern University

Johnson transferred to Southern University in fall 1985.
He was eligible to play starting in the 1986–87 season and played two seasons (1986–87, 1987–88) for the SU Jaguars.
Major achievements at SU:
- Led NCAA Division I in assists per game in both seasons: ~10.74 apg in 1986-87 (placing 3rd all-time at the time) and ~13.3 apg in 1987-88.
- His 13.3 assists per game in the 1987-88 season remains one of the highest single-season averages in NCAA Division I history.
- He became the first NCAA Division I men’s player ever to average double figures in both points and assists in the same season (1987-88: ~11.4 points & ~13.3 assists).
- Named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Year in both junior and senior seasons, plus MVP of the SWAC tournament in both seasons.
Southern University honored him in January 2013: they retired his number 15 jersey and dedicated the court at SU’s F. G. Clark Activity Center in his name.