LAKE CHARLES – McNeese freshman phenom and Southland Conference Freshman of the Year Larry Johnson will return to the Cowboys for his sophomore season, the school's all-time freshman scoring leader announced via his Instagram page on Saturday and confirmed by Cowboys' head coach Bill Armstrong.
 
As a first-year Cowboy, Johnson led the team with 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. He scored 592 total points to blow past Joe Dumars' 44-year-old record of 527 points set in 1982. His point total ranked as the 12^th-most among freshman in Division I basketball.
 
Johnson's points are the 14^th-most overall in a season in school history and the most scored since Demond Mallet scored 660 and Tierre Brown with 623 in the 2000-01 season.
 
"Larry had an incredible freshman season for the us," said Armstrong. "Breaking Joe Dumars' freshman scoring record was an amazing accomplishment which speaks volumes to his talent and work ethic. From day one when he walked on campus, we believed Larry had the potential to be special player and he certainly did not disappoint.
 
"His impact was instrumental in helping us secure our third straight Southland Conference championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. That success is a direct reflection of Larry's ability and the energy he brings to our program.
 
"We're excited to welcome Larry back to Lake Charles. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to be part of his growth, not only as a player, but as a young man. As outstanding as this season was, we believe he's only scratching the surface of his potential. We look forward to getting back in the gym with him and helping him take the next steps toward achieving his goal of becoming an NBA player."
 
A first-team All-Southland Conference selection, second-team NABC All-District honoree, and a finalist for the Kyle Macy Award as the nation's top freshman in Division I basketball, Johnson led the team with 30 double-digit scoring games, 12 of those going for 20 points or more.
 
He helped lead the Cowboys to a 28-6 overall record and a No. 12 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament as McNeese became the first team in the Southland to earn three-straight No. 12 seed. The 28 wins are the second-most in school history as a Division I program and third-most overall.
 
Johnson made his collegiate debut by scoring 30 points in 18 minutes in the season opener against Champion Christian and scored 20 or more in two of the next three games following the opener. He scored 18 against Santa Clara, a NCAA Tournament participant, netted 14 at No. 1 Michigan, and 15 points against Vanderbilt in the NCAA Tournament First Round.