Posted 1:38 am Friday, April 09, 2010
Path Once Traveled: Johnson Follows Brother To TJC
By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer
John Tyler senior basketball standout Jaron Johnson carved his own path down yet a familiar road.
Staff Writer
John Tyler senior basketball standout Jaron Johnson carved his own path down yet a familiar road.
Johnson inked with Tyler Junior College during a signing ceremony Thursday morning at the Lions Den. He elected the JUCO over Division I programs such as Colorado State, Northwestern State and Texas-Arlington.
Recently, Johnson's older brother Justin Johnson played two seasons for TJC and head coach Mike Marquis before going on to star at Iowa and play professionally in the NBA Developmental League, and currently overseas in Romania for CS Municipal Bucuresti.
"I liked the facilities, coaches, my new teammates and just the atmosphere," Johnson said.
"When I was little I figured myself going to the Big 10, Big 12, like my older brother (Justin). I think this is the best option for me to get where I want to be."
Johnson averaged 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He helped JT win 21 games and tie for second place in District 11-5A and reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons.
In all three of his varsity seasons, Johnson left a mark. As a sophomore, he earned All-District and All-East Texas Newcomer of the Year honors. As a junior, he leaped to first team 11-5A and All-East Texas. Last month, the district coaches voted Johnson Offensive Player of the Year.
"He has untapped talent -- he shoots the ball really well and is very athletic," JT coach Tony Pinson said. "He could be a dominant player and I think he's going to get there. They have a program that's going to take him to the next level. They're getting a tremendous talent."
Entering high school, Johnson seemed equally-suited to shine on the hardwood or gridiron, where his father Michael Johnson serves as a JT assistant football coach. He concentrated solely on basketball starting in the 10th grade.
"I wanted him to play football because I wanted him to coach him, (but) basketball was his main sport anyway," said the eldest Johnson, who doubles as JT's head track coach, a squad his son presently helps in the long jump and relays. "It worked out in the long run."
The youngest Johnson continued a family tradition of producing collegiate basketball players, and a pipeline to TJC, where his father and mother, Cynthia Melontree Johnson, both attended.
"We identified the talent early and invested in it," said Melontree-Johnson, the principal of Ramey Elementary. "I'm excited about the fact that he will be able to play at home, be able to get bigger and stronger and go off where he wants to if he does what he needs to at TJC."
TJC finished 18-11 this past season, and hopes Johnson helps get the program closer to nationals. Johnson has been selected to play in two all-star games, the first an East Texas event at UT Tyler, and the second a Texas-Louisiana matchup in Lake Charles, La.
"First and foremost he's a great person, so were excited to add him," Marquis said. "As a player, he has tremendous versatility. The way we run and shoot, he could play inside and out. He's a very natural fit. I see him playing anywhere from two through four.
"Obviously Justin had a great career for us and Iowa and is still playing. But we wanted Jaron because of his abilities. I think he's just scratching the surface. There's no question when we talked about recruiting he was at the top of our list the whole time."
