UNLV’s Larry Johnson selected to college basketball hall of fame

UNLV basketball forward Larry Johnson gets off shot beyond the defensive reach of Duke's Alaa Abdelnaby April 3, 1990, in Denver. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

UNLV Rebels forward Larry Johnson (4) performs a behind the back pass during the NCAA Men's basketball championship game against the Duke Blue Devils in Denver, Colo., April 2, 1990. The Rebels went on to defeated Duke 103-73. (Review-Journal File)

Former UNLV head basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, center, poses with two of his former star players, Stacey Augmon, left, and Larry Johnson, during ceremonies retiring their jerseys Monday night, Dec. 18, l995, prior to the start of the UNLV game against Charleston Southern in Las Vegas. (Lennox McLendon/AP)

UNLV's Larry Johnson works out with teammates in Seattle in preparation for the game against Utah, March 20, 1991. (AP Photo/Jack Smith)

University of Nevada-Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian celebrates with three of his Runnin' Rebel alumni after they were selected in the first round of the NBA draft at New York's Madison Square Garden, June 26, 1991. From left are: Stacey Augmon, picked by the Atlanta Hawks; Greg Anthony, picked by the New York Knicks; Larry Johnson, the top pick overall of the Charlotte Hornets; and Tarkanian. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm) University of Nevada-Las Vegas coach Jerry Tarkanian celebrates with three of his Runnin' Rebel alumni after they were selected in the first round of the NBA draft at New York's Madison Square Garden, June 26, 1991. From left are: Stacey Augmon, picked by the Atlanta Hawks; Greg Anthony, picked by the New York Knicks; Larry Johnson, the top pick overall of the Charlotte Hornets; and Tarkanian. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm)

Larry Johnson, who starred on two Final Four teams at UNLV, will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

He joins a class that includes Duke’s Shane Battier, Indiana’s Calbert Cheaney, Purdue’s Terry Dischinger, Providence’s Ernie DiGregorio and Stanford’s Todd Lichti. Former coaches Homer Drew, Lute Olson and the late Rick Majerus also will be inducted.

Induction ceremonies will take place as part of the Hall of Fame Classic on Nov. 24 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Johnson led the Rebels to the 1990 national championship and to the 1991 national semifinals. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets.

He is considered by many as the Rebels’ greatest player and is the first UNLV inductee into this Hall of Fame.

Johnson was the national player of the year in 1991, a two-time All-American and two-time Big West Conference Player of the Year.

Johnson totaled 1,617 points and 837 rebounds in his two seasons after transferring from Odessa (Texas) College, averaging 21.6 points and 11.2 rebounds. His 457 rebounds in the 1989-90 season remains the school record.

After college, Johnson played 10 seasons in the NBA, five each for Charlotte and the New York Knicks. He was Rookie of the Year in 1992 and a two-time All-NBA selection. Johnson averaged 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds in his career.

He was inducted into the UNLV Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Contact Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.