Shamar Johnson returned to the Lions as a graduate assistant for the men's basketball program for two seasons: 2019-20 and 2020-21. Johnson played two seasons at LMU after transferring from Pensacola State College in Florida prior to the 2015-16 season where he was an NJCAA All-Conference selection. Johnson graduated from LMU with a degree in African American Studies.
The 2020-21 season saw meteoric growths across the board for LMU men’s basketball. The Lions finished in the top three of the West Coast Conference standings for the first time since 2005-06. Johnson helped guide his team through the COVID-19 pandemic and posted a winning record in the WCC for the first time since 2011-12. LMU has posted a top-100 ranking in the NCAA’s NET, college basketball’s comprehensive metric that takes into account record, quality opponents faced, and game location, among others. LMU’s 95 ranking is the highest NET (or RPI at that time) since the Elite Eight season of 1990.
HIGHLIGHTS AT LMU...
IN 2016-17... SENIOR... Played and started 27 games for the Lions, averaging 21.8 minutes per contest... missed only games due to concussion suffered against UT Arlington... averaging 7.0 points anf 4.4 rebounds a contest, both up from a year ago... had nine games with 10 or more points... had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists against Boise State (12/5/16) and followed that with 10 points and nine boards in win over Southern Utah (12/8/16)... had 10 points, six rebounds and a career-best six assists in first game back from concussion against BYU (12/31/16)... had 12 points and eight rebounds against Santa Clara (1/7/17) and 11 points and 9 boards at Portland (1/14/17), both wins.
IN 2015-16... JUNIOR... played all 31 games with 29 starts in his first season with the Lions... averaging 5.5 ppg and 4.2 rpg... he finished season averaging 20.9 minutes per game and was second on the team in starts, two behind Brandon Brown... added 20 steals and 30 assists on the season... had eight points and four rebounds in 24 minutes in WCC tournament win over San Diego (3/4/16)... finished the regular season with four straight games in double figures, including a career-best 18 points and nine rebounds in the win over Pepperdine (2/27/16)... had 10 points and seven rebounds in the win over USF (2/20/16)... went for 11 points and five rebounds at Saint Mary's (2/13/16)... played a career-best 39 minutes in the double-overtime win, adding three blocks... started every game of non-conference, averaging 19.4 minutes per contest... heading into WCC play, averaged 4.5 ppg and 4.5 apg... posted season-best 11 points and six rebounds in the win over UCR (12/6/15)... had 9 points and 9 rebounds in the win over CSUN (11/25/15)... went for nine points at Pepperdine (1/2/16).
BEFORE LMU... Johnson led Pensacola State College to back-to-back Junior College Tournament appearances for the first time in 21 years. He was named first-team All-Panhandle Conference, one of the top junior college conferences in the nation... Johnson was the team's second-leading scorer and rebounder, earning all-conference honors from the Florida media... he went to Pine Forest High School and led them to the Class 6A title game as a senior... The forward was the two-time Pensacola News Journal Player of the Year (2012, 2013) and originally signed to play football at Louisville before committing to the sport of basketball... was a three-time all-conference selection in basketball and two-time in football... he was an All-State TE/DE as a junior and senior.
