ST. LOUIS – Southern Illinois guard Xavier Johnson has been named Captain of the Missouri Valley Conference Most Improved Team, the League office announced Tuesday.

The team was selected by a panel of the league’s newspaper beat writers and a panel of media voters.

Johnson has had a breakout season for Southern Illinois, ranking fourth in the nation in scoring at 22.0 points per game. Along with his scoring, the guard also leads the Missouri Valley Conference in assists (6.1) and ranks sixth in steals per game (1.4).

The Germantown, Maryland, native has scored 30 or more six times to lead the MVC, and his 17 20-point games ranks second-best in the MVC. He is 22nd nationally and leads the MVC with an 89.1 free throw percent. Johnson averaged 7.0 points per game last year for the Salukis.

The last Saluki to be named Captain of the Most Improved Team was Jeff Early in 2013.

Joining Johnson on the five-player Most Improved Team are Ja’Kobi Gillespie of Belmont, Darius Hannah and Connor Hickman of Bradley and Jayson Kent of Indiana State.

All-Conference honors will be announced Wednesday.