TY Johnson Named to All-Big West First Team: A Stellar Season for UC Davis’ Star Guard

TY Johnson Earns All-Big West First Team Honors: A Look at His
Stellar Season

UC Davis Star Guard TY Johnson Recognized for Dominant Two-Way Play

DAVIS, Calif. – UC Davis senior guard TY Johnson has been named to the All-Big West First Team, solidifying his status as one of college basketball’s most dynamic two-way players. The announcement, made on Tuesday, March 11, highlights Johnson’s exceptional contributions to the Aggies’ success this season.

This marks the fourth straight year a UC Davis player has earned First Team honors, and Johnson’s journey to this achievement has been nothing short of remarkable. After earning Honorable Mention in his debut season (2022-23) and a Second Team nod in 2023-24, Johnson has now secured his place among the conference’s elite with a First Team selection in 2024-25.

TY Johnson’s Stellar Season by the Numbers

Johnson, a Chicago native, has been the driving force behind UC Davis’ success this year. Starting all 31 games, he averaged an impressive 21.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. His ability to dominate on both ends of the court has made him a standout in the Big West and beyond.

• Scoring Prowess: Johnson ranks sixth nationally in scoring, with 21.2 points per game. He has scored in double figures in 29 games, including 21 performances with 20+ points and five games with 30+ points.

• Defensive Impact: Johnson is a force on defense, ranking 10th nationally in total steals (72) and 15th in steals per game (2.3). His defensive efforts have been instrumental in key victories, including a record-breaking game against Cal Poly where the Aggies forced 33 turnovers—the most in program history.

• Historic Achievements: Johnson is the first player since Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr. (2021-22) to rank in the 99th percentile in points per 40 minutes while also ranking in the 95th percentile or higher in steals per 40 minutes.

A National Spotlight and Big West Dominance

Johnson’s talent has not gone unnoticed on the national stage. Earlier this season, he led the country in scoring and was named to the Lou Henson Award watch list, which honors the top mid-major player in college basketball. His standout performances earned him Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week honors, one of the most prestigious awards in college basketball.

In Big West play, Johnson elevated his game even further, averaging 21.8 points per game. He matched his career-high with a 35-point performance against UC Santa Barbara on January 18 and dropped 33 points against Long Beach State on February 6. These efforts earned him Big West Player of the Week honors twice this season, bringing his career total to three.

Making History at UC Davis

Johnson has etched his name throughout the UC Davis record books. He currently ranks:

• 4th in program history in scoring with 1,686 points (including 1,675 at UC Davis).

• 2nd in career steals at UC Davis.

• Holder of the program’s Division I single-season steals record with 72 steals and counting.

• Set a single-game program record with 18 free throws made against Long Beach State on January 11, breaking the previous mark of 17.

Johnson also holds every UC Davis free throw record, including most in a single season (175 and counting) and most in a career (464).

What’s Next for TY Johnson and the Aggies?

Johnson and the sixth-seeded Aggies are set to face No. 7 seed Cal Poly in the first round of the Big West Championships on Wednesday. The game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. PT at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nev., and will be broadcast on ESPN+.

2024-25 Big West Men’s Basketball All-Conference Team

Here’s a look at the full list of honorees for the 2024-25 season:

Player of the Year: Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UC San Diego
Newcomer of the Year: Jemel Jones, Cal State Bakersfield
Freshman of the Year: Jurian Dixon, UC Irvine
Coach of the Year: Eric Olen, UC San Diego
Best Defensive Player: Hayden Gray, UC San Diego
Best Hustle Player: Chris Howell, UC San Diego
Best Sixth Player: Justin Rochelin, UC San Diego

All-Big West First Team

• Barrington Hargress, UC Riverside

• TY Johnson, UC Davis

• Keonte Jones, CSUN

• Bent Leuchten, UC Irvine

• Tyler McGhie, UC San Diego

• Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, UC San Diego

All-Big West Second Team

• Marcus Adams Jr., CSUN

• Hayden Gray, UC San Diego

• Jemel Jones Jr., Cal State Bakersfield

• Stephan Swenson, UC Santa Barbara

• Devin Tillis, UC Irvine

Honorable Mention: Cole Anderson (UC Santa Barbara), Devin Askew (Long Beach State), Myles Che (UC Irvine), Tanner Christensen (Hawai’i), Justin Hohn (UC Irvine), Owen Koonce (Cal Poly), Kenny Pohto (UC Santa Barbara), Isaiah Moses (UC Riverside), Scotty Washington (CSUN).