STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Tarleton State junior guard Dior Johnson was named to the Lou Henson Player of the Year Early Season Watch List announced by CollegeInsider.com on Thursday afternoon.

The Lou Henson Award is awarded annually to the top mid-major college basketball player in the country. Johnson is on the list as one of the best 50 at this point in the season that could potentially take home the honor at the end of the season. The junior is one of three WAC players on the list joined by Utah Valley's Jackson Holcombe and CBU's Dominque Daniels Jr.

"What a great recognition for Tarleton State University and Dior Johnson to be considered for the Lou Henson Award, honoring one of the best players in the nation," said head coach Billy Gillispie. "He's one of fifty right now. He has started the season really well and I hope that he continues to play at a very high level. I was fortunate enough to know coach Henson well, coach against his teams, learn basketball from him, and appreciate his greatness. For Dior to be considered to be involved with anything with Lou Hensons' name on it is pretty cool."

Johnson is one of the most elite scorers in the country averaging 24.0 points per game in his first eight contests as a Texan. After the first six games of the season, he led the nation in total points, free throws and field goals made. He missed four games due to an injury but returned in the Texans' last game at Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday. He led the team in scoring for the sixth time this season all off the bench with 27 points on 10-of-15 from the floor.

The Kingston, N.Y., native, is one of 10 players this season to record at least 40 points in a single game. Johnson poured on 42 on the road at Baylor, one of just three players to score 40 or more against a Power Four opponent and the only to do it on a true road game. Johnson is one of four players in the NCAA to have at least three games of 30 or more, one of two also on the watchlist.

The junior leads the WAC averaging 24.0 points while shooting 57.7 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from three-point land. He ranks 33rd in the nation with 60 made free throws this season shooting at an 87.0 percent rate. The transfer has played in eight games this season all coming off the bench, contributing to the Texans' nation-best 44.7 bench points per game. 

Johnson would lead the country in points per game and three-point shooting if he had played the qualifying percentage of games this season as he is one game shy. He is also averaging 3.1 boards, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals so far for the Texans this year. He has tallied at least four assists in a pair of games including six at Rice. He notched a career-best four steals in his last game against the Delta Devils.

The Lou Henson award honors the former Illinois and New Mexico State head coach who won 775 games in 41 seasons. Coach Henson passed away on July 25, 2020. The recipient of the annual award is determined by a 10-member voting committee, which consists of current and former head coaches, as well as two senior staff members of collegeinsider.com. The 2026 award will be announced in Indianapolis, IN, site of the men's
Division I Basketball Championship.

Tarleton State will close out the week with its final game before a 10-day holiday break on Friday, Dec. 19 at the EECU Center. The Texans will host Florida A&M for the second consecutive year with tip scheduled for 7 p.m.