Corban men's basketball standout Joel Johnson was named the male recipient of the NAIA's Emil S. Liston Scholarship Award.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced on Monday morning that Corban University men's basketball standout Joel Johnson has been named the men's basketball recipient of the Emil S. Liston Scholarship Award. The award is presented annually to one men's and one women's basketball student-athlete who have shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.
"I'm incredibly honored to receive this award," said Johnson. "I'm in awe of the blessings that God has brought into my life since coming to Corban. I want to give thanks to all of the faculty, coaches, teammates, and loved ones that have made this possible. My time at Corban has been unforgettable, and I'm so thankful for this amazing University."
Prior to Johnson, only two other Warrior student-athletes have ever received an NAIA National Award. The first-ever was Ian Logan (Men's Basketball; 2010; Emil S. Liston Award), and most recently Kellen Luey (Men's Soccer; 2015, A.O. Duer Award).
The Emil S. Liston Award has been presented annually since 1950, and Johnson will receive a $1,000 scholarship towards his time at Corban.
While boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA while studying Health Sciences in the Pre-Med program at Corban, professors and peers alike have taken notice and appreciation of Johnson's work ethic that is required for the strenuous course load the program requires. Last year, Johnson was tabbed a CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-American for his efforts on the court and in the classroom – the highest academic/athletic honor a collegiate student-athlete can receive.
On the court, Johnson garnered Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) First-Team plaudits thanks to dominating performances throughout the 2017-18 season. While ranking tied for third overall in the NAIA with a 68.6% field-goal percentage, he averaged a team-leading 14.8 ppg. Down low, he hauled in a team-best 8.0 rpg while also totaling 60 blocks on the season, averaging 2.0 bpg to rank seventh overall in the NAIA. Overall, Johnson finished in the NAIA's top-10 in four statistical categories last year.
Johnson's has hopes of attending medical school and becoming an orthopedic surgeon following graduation from Corban, and he has already started a life of service, traveling to Haiti with a team of doctors to provide much needed medical attention to their local communities.
"We are extremely proud that Joel is being recognized by the NAIA for all of his success in the classroom and basketball floor," said Corban University head men's basketball coach Mitch Freeman. "The time and commitment to both his studies and his craft on the court are being recognized on a national stage, and we couldn't be more proud and excited that he is a part of our family here at Corban University. Joel epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete."
For a complete list of this year's NAIA National Award-Winners, CLICK HERE.
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