BASKETBALL • 1978-81

One of the great shooters in the history of basketball, Eddie Johnson finished his Illinois career as the school’s all-time leader in scoring (1,692 points) and rebounds (831). He earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors in 1981, Second-Team recognition in 1980 and honorable mention in 1979, while earning team MVP honors in 1980 and 1981. A member of Illinois’ All-Century Team, Johnson hit one of the most iconic shots in Illinois history when his bucket in the final seconds lifted the fourth-ranked Illini to a 57-55 victory over top-ranked Michigan State in 1979 at the Assembly Hall. He led Illinois to the 1980 NIT, the Illini’s first post-season appearance since 1963, and to the 1981 NCAA Tournament. Johnson enjoyed a 17-year NBA career and still stands as the Illini’s all-time leading scorer in the NBA with a total of 19,202 points. That total ranked 22nd all-time at the time of his retirement. Johnson and his wife, Joy, currently live in Paradise Valley, Arizona, where he serves as the TV analyst for the Phoenix Suns.