Ben Johnson Receives Local Offer From Lopers

KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney men’s basketball program took their first look locally to add future talent on Monday, extending an offer to Class of 2025’s Ben Johnson from Kearney High School.

Johnson, a current junior, has already received numerous accolades during his three-year varsity career. Recently, the top-ten Class A scorer was named the Kearney Hub’s boys basketball player of the season following his 18.4 points per game, 9.7 rebound per contest, 4.0 assists per game output leading Kearney to the A-7 District Final.

The Bearcats have relied on Johnson’s scoring ability throughout the past two seasons as a starter. After scoring 5.5 points per game as a freshman in a reserve role (127 total points, 85 rebounds), Johnson exploded onto the Class A scene quickly his sophomore season with 15.3 points per contest and 9.0 rebounds per game (366 total points, 217 rebounds).

This past season, Johnson picked up his game further with 18.4 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game while pushing Kearney into a host seed for the Class A district postseason. His 441 total points in 2023-24 were good for 11th all-time in Bearcat boys basketball history.

Johnson is currently 10th in total points scored in Bearcat history with 934 career points. He has also 535 career rebounds. As a starter in both his sophomore and junior seasons, Johnson has ranked in Class A’s Top Ten in season scoring leaders, rebounds, and three-pointers made.

UNK Men’s Basketball recently wrapped a 5-22 campaign, missing the MIAA tournament for the sixth consecutive season – the Lopers last appearance came in 2018. The Lopers announced a new head coach earlier this month, naming alum Marty Levinson as the next head coach.