DALLAS – UNT Dallas athletics begins its seventh year and sixth as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Trailblazers have featured many unique student-athletes over the years, and we are recognizing their success in the UNT Dallas Trailblazers Spotlight series.
 
VERNON JOHNSON (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25) is the lone Trailblazer to have started with the men's basketball team in year one and graduated. He was a mainstay on the squad and leader in the program and community at UNT Dallas. Johnson became the first Trailblazer on the men's side to surpass 1,000 career points and second overall basketball player to achieve the feat.  
 
The guard/forward owns several all-time records with the Trailblazers including: points (1,264), field goals, rebounds (630), and steals (203). Keep in mind that stats from 2020-21 are not included due to countability when the program joined NAIA in 2021-22.
 
Johnson was a leader off the floor, as the DeSoto, Texas, native made a decision to build a legacy with a school and program within miles of his hometown. His effort was reflected in Inside the Sooner in 2024.
 
Johnson was named Sooner Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and was a four-time All-SAC Honorable Mention. Johnson was also an Association of Student-Athletes representative for multiple years for the Trailblazers.
 
One of the program's most shocking wins came in an exhibition contest at NCAA Division I Rice University in 2024-25 season. The Trailblazers pulled off a 69-68 upset that counted as a loss for the Owls. The Trailblazers pulled a stunner on ESPN+ with a big second half. Down two with seconds left, Johnson was the hero that would get to the free throw line and sank all three to push the Trailblazers ahead. While gaining the lead, the national broadcast praised Johnson for his dedication and determination with the young Trailblazers program and was clearly the first established face of Coach Josh Howard's team.
 
Johnson was named to UNT Dallas Athletic Director's List in fall 2023 and was on the 2023-24 SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. Johnson majored in Biology.
 
Johnson etched his name in the UNTD men's basketball record book over his career and holds single game, single season, and career records.

• Single game
  • 12 field goals vs. Southwestern Christian (1/18/2024)
  • 7 steals vs. Oklahoma City (2/10/2024), John Brown (1/30/2024)
• Single season
  • Steals (58 in 2024-25)
  • Steals-per-game (2.1 in 2024-25, 2023-24)
• Career
  • Field Goals (451)
  • Games (107)
  • Rebounds (630)
  • Steals (203)