University of Connecticut Athletics
Carlton Earns AAC Most Improved Player Award
3/12/2019 9:24:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UConn Athletic Communications
March 12, 2019
PROVIDENCE – UConn sophomore center Josh Carlton, who has gone from a part-time player to a force underneath the basket for the Huskies, was named co-winner of the American Athletic Conference Most Improved Player Award, the league announced on Tuesday.
Carlton (Winterville, N.C.) shares the award, which is decided by a vote of the league's coaches, with Temple sophomore guard Nate Pierre-Louis.
Carlton has started every game for UConn this season, and holds the team's current active streak of most consecutive games started with 33. He is averaging 9.1 points per game, more than double his average of last season, and leads the Huskies in rebounding at 6.0 per game. He also leads UConn with a .618 field goal percentage and 1.7 blocked shots per game.
In American Conference play, Carlton's statistics are even better, averaging 10.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks with a field goal percentage of .614 and he has recorded three double-doubles. He leads the AAC in blocked shots, ranks fifth in rebounding, fourth in offensive rebounds (2.9) and third in field goal percentage.
Carlton has saved his best for the end of the season, averaging 19.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and shooting a remarkable .815 in UConn's last three games. He was named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on March 11.
Carlton is the first UConn player to win the AAC Most Improved Player Award.
