The Garden City Telegram

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GCCC's Johnson commits to Memphis

Published 2/14/2012 in Sports

By ADAM HOLT

aholt@gctelegram.com

It's 748 miles from Geron Johnson's hometown of Dayton, Ohio, to Marianna, Fla., where he played his first year of junior college basketball. When Johnson left Chipola Community College, it was a 1,245-mile journey from Marianna to Garden City. And for reference, Garden City is 968 miles from Dayton.

As long as distances are the topic, it's 538 miles from Dayton to Memphis, Tenn. At this point, that's chump change for Johnson. And it will be a much sweeter trip for the Broncbusters' sophomore guard, because it means he finally gets his chance to play Division I basketball.

Johnson made a verbal commitment to the University of Memphis Thursday, choosing the Tigers over a number of other schools that had expressed interest, including Kansas and Wichita State.

"It's very exciting, a blessing first," Johnson said on Monday. "I've got these months left at Garden City, I want to make the best of it, bring this ring home here. Show the community that we did the best we could for them. It's still a long road until we get there, get to signing day."

Garden City Community College men's basketball coach Kris Baumann was also happy for Johnson.

"I think he's going to have a chance to have a great career there. He's got a chance to have a great career here, if we can finish off strong," Baumann said. "I was happy for him. It's a great thing for him to be able to sign at the University of Memphis."

Baumann said Johnson was very interested in Memphis after making a visit in late January. Johnson also made an official visit to KU in December, which he had said was a good experience as well. Johnson talked with his mother and family, and eventually decided on the Tigers, citing the coaching staff, facilities and the city's similarity to his hometown.

Memphis head coach Josh Pastner was in Garden City to see Johnson play in a recent home game, and the appeal of working with assistant coach Damon Stoudemire, a former NBA rookie of the year who played in the league from 1995-2008, was another selling point.

"I'm hoping to learn from one of the best point guards; I'm trying to get my point guard skills up," Johnson said.

And of course, there's the fact he'll be closer to home. Memphis is only about an eight-hour drive for Johnson's family if they want to see him play.

That long road from Ohio to Florida to Kansas wasn't without its pitfalls. Johnson was dismissed from the team at Chipola for legal troubles and an arrest, and recently was suspended for one of the Broncbusters' games for a misdemeanor citation for theft of lost property.

Now that he's made a commitment, the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel is that much brighter, though. Baumann said Johnson is on track academically, and just has to be sure to do all the right things to finish and graduate. Johnson's aware of what he needs to do between now and the April 11 signing day.

"I'm going to be honest, it's a change," he said of knowing he's committed to a school now. "Because now you've got more of a concrete, a goal that you're trying to get to. I know what it is. Every day, it's just waking up, I gotta do the right thing, I gotta go to class, I've gotta win games for my team, to be a leader. It was a change, I ain't going to lie to you. But a positive change."

Baumann, who played at the University of Idaho, said Johnson making the verbal commitment might be good for the 19-year-old's play as a Broncbuster.

"Usually, it helps guys. I went through it, I signed early when I was in high school and it took a lot of pressure off of me," Baumann said. "Usually it's a good thing, because guys get set, they know where they're going, they don't have to worry. Even for me, you don't have to worry about the distractions of a lot of coaches being there, and how guys play underneath that pressure."

Johnson leads the Busters at 19.7 points per game, the third-highest mark in the Jayhawk West. However, he isn't always consistent, and at times, looks like he's trying too hard to carry his team. Baumann wants Johnson to become a more solid all-around player and cut down on turnovers and lapses in concentration.

Still, Baumann said Johnson has a "heckuva lot of ability" and Johnson thinks the elevated level of play will push him. The level of competition will get another boost in his second year with the Tigers, as Memphis is slated to leave Conference USA and join the Big East, beginning in the 2013-14 season.

Playing in a powerhouse conference like the Big East, which features big-name programs like Connecticut and Louisville, makes everything that much sweeter for Johnson, who is thankful for the chance to play.

"The Big East has always been my dream to play in, I'm going to be honest. I'm not going to say they're the best, but I feel they had the most competitive guards. I'm the type of player, I'm not the best, but I've got the heart to play against the best, to be the best that I can be.

"That's just, man, they made the road for me, I just have to do right."

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