Johnson Voted to NE-10 All-Rookie Team
Nassau, Bahamas, native second Raven in as many years to earn honor
RINDGE, N.H. (March 3, 2005) - For the second-straight year, the Franklin Pierce men's basketball team has placed a player on the Northeast-10 Conference's All-Rookie Team. Freshman swingman Mitchell Johnson (Nassau, Bahamas/Cushing Academy) has earned the honors this season after being selected by the NE-10's 15 head coaches. The announcement was made tonight by the NE-10 at the Conference Tournament semifinal games.
Johnson joins teammate Darryl Minnifield (Boston, Mass./Brookline) as the first two All-Rookie team honorees in program history after Minnifield was picked last winter. Johnson led the Ravens this season with 14.7 points (14th NE-10), 5.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.4 steals in 35.1 minutes per game (4th). He set a program record with 228 three-point attempts, connecting on 35.5-percent (81-228), and finished the season shooting 40.8% (137-336) from the field and 73.7% (56-76) from the free-throw line. His 2.9 three-point field goals per game tied for fifth in the NE-10.
Johnson led the Ravens in scoring 13 times and rebounding on ten occasions in 28 games this season. He reached double-figures in scoring 20 times, including ten of the Ravens last 13 games, with five 20-plus scoring outings. Johnson was named NE-10 Freshman of the Week on two occasions and averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals in Conference play this winter.
Johnson registered one double-double in his rookie year, posting 21 points and 11 rebounds (eight offensive) at Pace University on January 3. He netted a season-high 29 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field, including 8-13 from three-point range, to go with seven rebounds, three assists and four steals in a win over Merrimack on February 16. His eight three-pointers that night were just one shy of his cousin, Shanendon Cartwright's, single-game record set against Bridgeport in January, 1997. Johnson canned all seven three-point attempts in the second half that night as the Ravens built on a four-point halftime lead in the 82-73 victory.
Johnson registered 27 points at Saint Anselm College on January 27 and dished a season-high eight assists on two occasions.
Franklin Pierce (9-19, 7-15 NE-10) made its 28th-straight postseason appearance this winter, falling in the first round at sixth-seeded Bryant University, 60-57.