Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 27, 1991                   TAG: 9103270157
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BASKETBALL/ UNLV'S JOHNSON VOTED TOP PLAYER

Johnson is the 17th winner of the award, voted on annually by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Last year's winner was Lionel Simmons of La Salle.

A junior-college transfer, Johnson helped UNLV to its first national championship last year when he averaged 20.6 points, 11.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. This year, the undefeated Runnin' Rebels are bidding for a second straight title with Johnson averaging 23 points and 10.8 rebounds and three assists per game.

Johnson and Steve Smith of Michigan State were the only seniors on the NABC Division I All-America team. Joining them were junior Billy Owens of Syracuse and sophomores Shaquille O'Neal of LSU and Kenny Anderson of Georgia Tech. All were finalists for the Eastman Award.

UNLV's Larry Johnson was selected the college player of the year and Kentucky's Rich Pitino was voted coach of the year by The Sporting News.

It was the second time Pitino has received the Sporting News honor. He was selected five years ago when he coached Providence into the Final Four.