Marques Johnson

American college basketball player who starred at UCLA from 1973-1977, winning national championship and becoming two-time All-American forward.

Marques Kevin Johnson was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1956. He attended UCLA University under coach John Wooden and Gene Bartow and won the national championship in 1975 — the year Wooden coached his final game. He was a two-time All-American and the Pac-8 Player of the Year. He averaged 19.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game across his four UCLA seasons. As the programme transitioned from the Bill Walton era to its post-Wooden years, Johnson was the bridge — talented enough to win one championship and lead the Bruins in the difficult years after Wooden's retirement in 1975. He was selected third overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1977 NBA Draft. His five All-Star professional appearances confirmed the promise his college career showed. His UCLA career — following Walton and Alcindor in one of the most decorated lineages in college basketball history — required performing in the long shadow of those legends while establishing his own identity. He succeeded on both counts.

Johnson was a versatile forward who combined exceptional athleticism with refined basketball skills and court intelligence. He possessed a smooth shooting touch from mid-range, strong rebounding ability, and the speed to run the floor effectively in transition. His well-rounded game allowed him to contribute in multiple areas while playing with a fluid, effortless style.

Johnson helped bridge the gap between the John Wooden era at UCLA and the program's continued success, representing the culmination of one of college basketball's greatest dynasties.

• National Championship (1975)
• Naismith Award finalist
• Pac-8 Player of Year
• All-American 2x
• NCAA Championship (1975)
• John R. Wooden Award (1977)
• Naismith College Player of the Year (1977)
• Consensus All-American (1976, 1977)
• Pac-8 Player of the Year (1977)