Nate Johnson

K-State Men’s Basketball Lifestyle Shoot, July 29, 2025.

(Photo: Abby Kennedy/K-State Sports)

Photo by: Abby Kennedy/K-State Sports

K-State Men’s Basketball Headshots, July 29, 2025.

(Photo: Abby Kennedy/K-State Sports)

Position:
Guard
Ht./Wt.:
6-3 / 215
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Liberty Township, Ohio
High School:
Lakota East
Prev School:
Akron

HONORS

2024-25 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Year
2024-25 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Year
2024-25 All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) First Team
2024-25 Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Defensive Team
2025 Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament MVP
2025 All-Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament Team
2024-25 Lou Henson Award finalist
2024-25 NABC East District First Team
2024 Akron Basketball Classic MVP
Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player of the Week (Nov. 25)

CAREER OVERVIEW

Transferred to K-State after 3 seasons at Akron (2022-25) where he was a part of 74 wins, three Mid-American Conference Championships (one regular season (2025) and two tournament titles (2024, 2025) and two NCAA Tournament appearances (2024, 2025).
Has played in 92 games at the college level, including 60 starts.
Has scored more than 800 points (812) in his college career, connecting on 44.9 percent (295-of-657) from the field, including 33 percent (77-of-233) from 3-point range, and 78.4 percent (145-of-185) from the free throw line… Has also totaled 345 rebounds (3.8 rpg.), 188 assists (2.0 apg.), 123 steals (1.3 spg.) and 21 blocks (0.2 bpg.) in 2,285 minutes played.
Has scored in double figures in 40 games with five 20-point games and one 30-point game in his career… Scored a career-high 31 points in the Zips’ win over Toledo (3/14/25) in the semifinals of the MAC Tournament on 10-of-16 field goals, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line.
Earned his first double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds vs. Kent State (2/28/25).
Coming off a career year in 2024-25, becoming the first player in Akron history to be named both the Mid-American Conference Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season and the first since Ball State’s Bonzi Wells in 1998.
His scoring ability increased each season at Akron capped by his 14.0 points per game as a junior in 2024-25… Nearly doubled his scoring average from his sophomore (7.3 ppg.) to his junior (14.0 ppg.) seasons.
One of the active Division I leaders in steals with 123 in his 92-game college career, averaging 1.3 per game… Led the Zips in steals in all 3 seasons.

Career-High Points: 31 vs. Toledo (3/14/25) while at Akron
Career-High Rebounds: 10 vs. Kent State (2/28/25) while at Akron
Career-High Assists: 10 vs. South Alabama (2/8/25) while at Akron
Career-High Steals: 4 3 times
Career-High Blocks: 3 vs. Western Michigan (2/11/25) while at Akron

Top Career Scoring Games
31 vs. Toledo (3/14/25)
28 vs. Toledo (1/14/25)
25 vs. Alabama State (11/24/24)
22 vs. Western Michigan (2/11/25)
22 vs. Miami (Ohio) (3/15/25)
20 at Kent State (1/31/25)
19 vs. Milwaukee (12/15/24)
19 at Northern Illinois (1/28/25)
18 vs. Omaha (11/23/24)
18 at Buffalo (1/21/25)
18 at Central Michigan (2/15/25)

AS A JUNIOR AT AKRON (2024-25) | 14.0 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.4 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Helped guide the Zips to a 28-7 overall record, including both the regular-season and tournament Mid-American Conference championships… Lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Big 12 member Arizona, 93-65.
Honored as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Player and Defensive Player of the Year by the league coaches… Also selected to the All-MAC First Team and All-Defensive Team.
Became the first player in Akron history to be named both the MAC Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season and the first player in the MAC since Ball State’s Bonzi Wells in 1998.
Named a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, which is presented annually to the top player in the mid-major ranks.
Selected to the NABC East District First Team.
Named the MVP of the MAC Tournament after averaging 18.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in guiding the Zips to wins over Bowling Green, Toledo and Miami (Ohio)… Scored a career-high 31 points over the Rockets on 10-of-16 shooting.
Played in all 35 games with 34 starts… Played 1,052 total minutes, averaging a team-best 30.1 minutes per game… Played a season-high 36 minutes vs. Arizona (3/21/25) in the NCAA Tournament.
Averaged a team-high 14.0 points on 43.9 percent (169-of-385) shooting, including 30.1 percent (37-of-123) from 3-point range, with 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.5 blocks per game… Connected on 80.3 percent (114-of-142) from the free throw line.
Led the team in scoring (14.0 ppg.), total points (489), double-digit scoring games (26), field goals attempted (385), free throws made (114) and attempted (142), steals (61) and minutes (30.1 mpg.)… Placed second in field goals made (169) and assists (120).
Ranked in the MAC’s top 20 in 12 categories, including second in assist/turnover ratio (1.9), fourth in steals (1.7 spg.), fifth in free throws made (114) and attempted (142), seventh in defensive rebounds (136), ninth in total points (489) and assists (3.4 apg.), 11^th in field goals made (114), 12^th in free throw percentage (80.3), 16^th in total rebounds (171), 18^th in scoring (14.0 ppg.) and 20^th in minutes (30.1 mpg.).

Scored in double figures in 26 games, posting 15 or more points in 13 games with five 20-point games and one 30-point game… Led the team in scoring in 10 games… Totaled a career-high 31 points vs. Toledo (3/14/25) in the MAC Tournament on 10-of-16 field goals and 8-of-8 free throws… Also had 28 points vs. the Rockets (1/14/25) in the regular season.
Knocked down 31 made 3-point field goals on 30.1 percent shooting… Had at least 2 treys in 10 games, including a season-high 3 on two occasions.
Made more than 80 percent from the free throw line (114-of-142), going perfect from the line in 12 games… Went a season-best 8-of-8 from the charity stripe vs. Toledo (3/14/25).
Collected a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds vs. Kent State (2/28/25).
Grabbed 171 rebounds on the year, averaging 4.9 per game… Was second on the team in defensive rebounds (136) and third in total rebounds… Led the team in rebounding in eight games… Recorded a career-high 10 boards vs. Kent State (2/28/25).
Was second in assists (120), averaging 3.4 per game… Led the team in assists in 11 games… Dished out 5 or more assists in eight games… Posted a career-high 10 assists vs. South Alabama (2/28/25).
Led the team with 61 steals, averaging 1.7 per game… Had a season-high 4 in 5 games.
Recorded 18 total blocks with a career-high 3 vs. Western Michigan (2/11/25).
Started 17 of 18 games in MAC play… Averaged 15.0 points on 45.5 percent (97-of-213) shooting in league-only games, including 28.6 percent (18-of-63) from 3-point range, with 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1 steals in 31.0 minutes per game… Connected on 77.3 percent (58-of-75) from the free throw line.
Led the team in scoring (15.0 ppg.), field goals made (97) and attempted (213), free throws made (58) and attempted (75), steals (2.1 spg.) and minutes (31.0 mpg.) in MAC play while was second in rebounding (6.2 rpg.).

Scored in double figures in 16 MAC games, including three 20-point games.
Ranked in the MAC’s top 10 in seven categories, including third in steals (2.1 spg.), sixth in free throw made (58) and attempted (75), 10^th in rebounding (6.2 rpg.), 15^th in scoring (15.0 ppg.), 18^th in assists (2.8 apg.) and minutes (31.0 mpg.).
Coached by John Groce.

AS A SOPHOMORE AT AKRON (2023-24) | 7.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.6 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Helped guide the Zips to a 24-11 overall record, including a second-place finish in the Mid-American Conference with a 13-5 mark… Led the team to the MAC Tournament with wins over Miami (Ohio), Ohio and Kent State… Lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Creighton, 77-60.
Appeared in 24 games with 21 starts… Played 567 total minutes, averaging 23.6 per game… Played a season-high 36 minutes vs. Gardner-Webb (12/21/23) in an overtime win.
Averaged 7.3 points on 43.3 percent (68-of-157) shooting, including 31.7 percent (19-of-60) from 3-point range, with 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game… Connected on 75 percent (21-of-28) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 9 games, recording 15 or more points twice… Scored a season-high 17 points vs. Southern Miss (11/10/23) on 8-of-11 field goals.
Knocked down 19 3-pointers, connecting on 31.7 percent from beyond the arc… Had at least 2 treys in 4 games, including a season-best 3 triples twice.
Hit on 75 percent from the free throw line (21-of-28), going perfect from the line in 8 games… Went a season-best 4-of-4 from the charity stripe vs. Gardner-Webb (12/21/23).
Grabbed 78 rebounds, averaging 3.3 per game… Had a season-high 8 vs. Miami (Ohio) in the first round of the MAC Tournament.
Had 39 assists on the year with a season-high 6 at UNLV (11/28/23).
Paced the team with 28 steals… Secured 2 or more steals in 7 games, including a season-best 4 at UNLV (11/28/23).
Played in 8 games with 6 starts in MAC play… Averaged 5.6 points on 32 percent (16-of-50) shooting, including 25 percent (4-of-16) from 3-point range, in league-only games with 3.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 20.5 minutes per game... Connected on 81.8 percent (9-of-11) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 2 league games, including 13 at Northern Illinois (1/2/24).

Coached by John Groce.

AS A FRESHMAN AT AKRON (2022-23) | 4.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 0.9 APG | Game-by-Game Stats (.pdf)

Helped guide the Zips to a 22-11 overall record, including a third-place finish in the Mid-American Conference with a 13-5 mark… Lost to Kent State in the MAC Tournament.
Played in all 33 games with 5 starts… Played 653 total minutes, averaging 19.8 per game… Played a season-high 31 minutes at Eastern Michigan (2/14/23).
Averaged 4.5 points on 50.4 percent (58-of-115) shooting, including 42 percent (21-of-50) from 3-point range, with 2.9 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game… Connected on 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 5 games… Twice scored a season-high 13 points at Eastern Michigan (2/14/23) and vs. Western Michigan (2/25/23).
Knocked down 21 3-pointers, connecting on 42 percent from beyond the arc… Had at least 2 treys in 4 games, including a season-high 3 triples twice.
Totaled 96 rebounds, averaging 2.9 per game… Had a season-high 8 at Toledo (2/21/23).
Dished out 28 assists with a season-high 3 vs. Ohio (1/28/23).
Paced the team with 34 steals… Had 2 or more steals in 10 games, including a season-high 4 on two occasions.
Played in all 18 games in MAC play with 4 starts… Averaged 5.3 points on 54.3 percent (38-of-70) shooting, including 40 percent (12-of-30) from 3-point range, in league-only games with 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.2 steals in 21.1 minutes per game… Connected on 72.7 percent (8-of-11) from the free throw line.
Scored in double figures in 4 league games, including 13 twice.
Coached by John Groce.

HIGH SCHOOL

Was a three-star recruit out of high school… Rated among the top-70 small guard, including No. 64 by 247Sports… Also ranked as the No. 8 player in Ohio by 247Sports.
Played at Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, Ohio, leading the Thunderhawks to 40 wins as a junior and senior… Led the school to a 25-2 overall record and the regional final vs. Archbishop Moeller in 2019-20 before it was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Twice named Second Team Division I All-Ohio by the Ohio Sportswriters Association.
Named to the 2020-21 Winter High School Sports All-Star by the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Selected as the 2020 Greater Miami Conference (GMC) Athlete of the Year, the basketball Player of the Year as well as first team All-GMC.
Averaged 16.0 points, 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a junior.
Coached by Clint Adkins at Lakota East.