Western Kentucky Hilltoppers forward Justin Johnson (23) shoots during WKU's 93-55 win over Charlotte on Thursday, February 22, 2018, at E. A. Diddle Arena. (Austin Anthony/photo@bgdailynews.com)

For the second straight year, Western Kentucky men’s basketball senior Justin Johnson was named Friday as one of 14 recipients of the Conference USA Winter Spirit of Service Award.

The C-USA Spirit of Service Award is designed to recognize the community service efforts of the league’s student-athletes, based upon significant public service, good academic standing and participation in their sport.

The award is presented three times throughout the season, with Friday’s honorees representing winter sports: men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s indoor track & field, rifle and men’s and women’s swimming.

Johnson has already been named this year to the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award First Team, honoring his efforts in the areas of community, classroom, character and competition. He was the first Hilltopper to receive that honor.

Johnson has been a standout on the court for the Hilltoppers for four years and a strong presence in the community.

He finished his college career ranked 10th on WKU’s all-time scoring list with 1,715 career points and fifth on the all-time rebounding list with 1,057 career boards. He’s one of five players in program history with at least 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds, and the first since Jim McDaniels in 1971.

Johnson is the only active NCAA player with at least 1,700 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. He’s ranked fifth among active players in career double-doubles (40) and sixth in career rebounds.

Johnson spent spring practice, summer workouts and the beginning of fall camp last year with the football team as a tight end before returning to basketball in August.

Johnson graduated in just three years with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He’s now pursuing his master’s degree in intercollegiate athletic administration. 

Johnson has been named multiple times to the Conference USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll for student-athletes with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Johnson, a team captain, has been a steady leader for the WKU program through years of coaching and roster turnover. He was one of just two active players returning from last year and was the team’s only four-year player.

He also worked in the offseason to return from both knee surgery and deliberate weight gain, both of which were attributed to his time spent with the football team. Johnson often worked out four times a day in the offseason to shed the weight he gained purposefully for football and to rehab his knee back into playing shape.

Johnson has been a staple of the community since he arrived at WKU. He’s taken multiple mission trips to Belize and China, where he’s spent time with underprivileged children in addition to playing games. 

Johnson did the same this August in Costa Rica, where he played with children at a local orphanage during WKU’s foreign tour.

Johnson has also volunteered to work with senior citizens at Bowling Green Retirement Village, spoken at youth basketball games during the playing season, visited with special needs children from the city’s Camp Happy Days in previous years and volunteered several times for the United Way Day of Caring, including time with the area Boys & Girls Club.