Aurora University Athletics

Aurora University honors Mickey Johnson
 
In a pre-game ceremony prior to the March 17, 1978 game between the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls, former Aurora University Athletic Director Dr. Sam Bedrosian ceremoniously took Aurora College’s No. 43 out of commission.
 
This was a tribute to Aurora College’s Mickey Johnson. Johnson helped dispel any naysayers who may have felt that his incredible collegiate numbers were a result of playing at a non-NCAA Division I program. In his 12-year NBA career – the first five of which were spent with the Bulls – Johnson averaged 14.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He racked up 904 NBA games played with the Bulls, Indiana, Milwaukee, Golden State and New Jersey. He appeared in 22 post-season games with a scoring average of 13.7 points per game. As a forward, he also averaged nearly three assists per game and had two years with 300-plus assists.
 
But Johnson is about more than numbers alone. He completed his BA in Business Administration at Aurora College in 1974 (prior to entering the NBA), enjoyed an outstanding professional basketball career, worked to refurbish his old neighborhood, and is now a successful businessman in the Chicago area.
 
That’s not too bad for a kid who grew up in the shadows of the old Sears Building and played very little high school basketball. Perhaps the inscription on the plaque presented to Johnson by Dr. Bedrosian that night in 1978 said it best: “...in appreciation for your contribution to Aurora College and SOCIETY - student, athlete, alumnus, gentleman. A model for every person who strives for excellence...”
 
Mickey Johnson’s efforts and humanitarian outlook on life will forever be the standard for future Spartan athletes. He was – and is still today –The Pride of the Spartans.
 
Awards and Honors:
NAIA All-American First-Team – 1974
Honorable Mention – 1972, 1973
Associated Press Little American Third-Team – 1974
Illinois College-University-Senior Stars MVP – 1974
NIIC All-Conference – 1971-74
NAIA All-District – 1971-74
All-Illinois College Team (Peoria Journal Star) – 1971-74
Selected for World University Games try-outs – 1973
All Star US Team – 1974
Aurora College Profile Champion – 1971-74
Aurora College Basketball Captain – 1972-73, 1973-74
 
Aurora University Records:
Single Game – Individual
            Rebounds                    35                                1970-71
Season Total – Individual
            Points                          663 (24 games)           1973-74
            Scoring Average          27.6 (24 games)          1973-74
            Field Goals Made        288 (24 games)           1973-74
            Field Goal Pct.             .576 (278/483)            1972-73
Rebounds                    550 (24 games)           1972-73
Rebound Average       22.9                             1972-73
 
Career – Individual (3 or more season)
            Points                          2,453                           1970-74
            Scoring Average          26.1                             1970-74
            Rebounds                    1,966                           1970-74
            Rebound Average       20.9                             1970-74
            Field Goal                    1,050                           1970-74
            Field Goal Pct.             .561 (1,050/1,871)      1970-74
 
*Record shown were held at time of graduation