Akron basketball | Nate Johnson, Shammah Scott, John Groce win Mid-American Conference awards

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Akron basketball | Nate Johnson, Shammah Scott, John Groce win Mid-American Conference awards

Michael Beaven, Akron Beacon Journal · Akron Beacon Journal

Wed, Mar 12, 2025 ·

6 min read

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Members of the University of Akron men's men's basketball team received the top Mid-American Conference honors Wednesday when the conference announced its All-MAC awards.

Redshirt junior guard Nate Johnson was named MAC Player of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year, John Groce was named MAC Coach of the Year and guard Shammah Scott was named Sixth Man of the Year.

Additionally, Nate Johnson and junior guard Tavari Johnson were named to the All-MAC first team, senior guard Isaiah Gray was All-MAC honorable mention and guard Sharron Young made the All-MAC freshman team.

"This is a reflection of the team success," Groce said. "We obviously had a good season and guys got rewarded for that. That is usually how it works. Individuals will benefit when you have team success."

Nate Johnson became the fifth Akron player to earn MAC Player of the Year, joining Enrique Freeman (2024), Loren Cristian Jackson (2020), Isaiah Johnson (2017) and Romeo Travis (2007). He also was 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 to achieve that since Ball State's Bonzi Wells in 1998.

Akron's Nate Johnson looks for a second-half basket as Kent State's Cian Medley defends Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

Nate Johnson led the Zips in the regular season with 13.5 points and 1.9 steals per game. He also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 0.5 blocks, scored in double figures a team-leading 23 times and scored 15 or more points in 11 games. Johnson led the team in assists nine times and recorded five games of five or more assists. He led the Zips in rebounding eight times and was named MVP of the Akron Basketball Classic earlier in the season.

"Nate is a stud because he plays both ends," Groce said. "He obviously can defend, he can rebound, he can play make and he can score. He does a lot of different things. He is very versatile."

Tavari Johnson was second on the team in scoring (12.8 points) and led the Zips in assists (4.0). He recorded a team-high seven games of 20 or more points this season and ranked second on the Zips in double-figure scoring games (20). He led the team in games with five or more assists (11) and led the team in scoring 11 times in the regular season.

"Tavari had an unbelievable year," Groce said. "Obviously, like Nate, he is a huge part of what we do. Offensively, he is extremely gifted. He can shoot the ball and score off catch and bounce. He can play-make, play in pick and rolls and make other guys better. He has great instincts and feel. He has continued to grow and develop defensively as well."

Akron Zips guard Tavari Johnson drives to the basket past Ball State guard Ethan Brittain-Watts in the first half, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.

Gray averaged 9.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.0 steals. He also scored in double-figures in 20 games.

"Isaiah brings an experienced and physical guard to your roster that cares about winning," Groce said. "His physicality from the guard position, as does Seth [Wilson], really adds a lot of value to our team."

Scott averaged 9.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 0.8 steals. He scored in double figures in 14 games.

"Shammah did a great job for us all year," Groce said. "He was consistent throughout the 18 [MAC] games at both ends of the floor. A little bit like Tavari offensively, he can score it and shoot it, but he also has the ability to make others better via the pass, which makes him very, very valuable."

Akron Zips guard Sharron Young celebrates after a first-half 3-pointer at Kent State, Jan. 31, 2025.

Young averaged 7.7 points, 2.0 rebounds,1.8 assists and 0.9 steals. He scored in double figures in 10 games.

"Sharron had a great year as well," Groce said. "I am glad he was recognized for being on a really good team. All 10 of our guys make sacrifices and investment in the team to do this like we have had done it this year with that 10-man rotation. Sharron has been really good. I am super excited about how he played this year and even more excited about the potential he has moving forward. He fit in almost seamlessly with the way he defends, makes shots and makes plays for his team."

Groce previously won the MAC Coach of the Year award in 2020. Akron won a program record 25 regular-season games this season and tied the 2001-02 Kent State team for the best record in the MAC in the modern era with a 17-1 mark. The Zips went 16-0 at Rhodes Arena, tied the program record for most conference victories to begin MAC play (13) and won 14 consecutive games from Jan. 3 through Feb. 18.

"We have a good team," Groce said. "I have got good players that sacrifice for each other and really invest in this year around. I have got a great coaching staff and great support staff. One person can't do this by themselves. I appreciate the recognition, but it is really a total program award."