By Angie Ballman

Senior point guard Nick Johnson isn’t the tallest player on the court or the player who leads the team in points on a regular basis.

Johnson is the unselfish player who creates opportunities for his teammates. He is the guy who is playing gritty defense and hustles up and down the court.

Put all that together and one can see how Johnson has become a key contributor to the St. John’s basketball team (8-5 MIAC, 11-7 overall).

St. John’s coach Jim Smith said his senior point guard has a surplus of character, which benefits the entire team.

“Nick is a hard worker,” Smith said. “He’s dedicated and a sincere individual who is willing to help his teammates on and off the floor.

He is one of the first to be at practice and usually stays after to improve his game.”

New role

This is Johnson’s first year as the Johnnies’ starting point guard. Last season, he backed up then All-MIAC guard Matt Ohme, who now serves as an assistant coach for St. John’s.

Johnson looks back on his experience competing against Ohme fondly.

“Matt really took me under his wing,” Johnson said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better role-model to learn the position.”

Ohme also credits Johnson with helping him become a better player and pushing him in practice.

“When I was a player, Brady (Brink), Nick and I would joke around that Nick was my pupil,” Ohme said.

Going against each other everyday in practice made things competitive between us on the court,” he said. “That competition helped me during my junior and senior years and helped Nick step into this starting point guard position this season.”

Senior leadership

Brink has also seen Johnson’s game develop over the years.

In high school, Johnson played for Glencoe-Silver Lake, and Brink played for Waconia, which are both in the Wright County Conference.

The pair faced each other often. When Brink found out that Johnson was attending St. John’s after high school, he said he looked forward to playing with him.

Since high school and now seeing Johnson come into his own this season, Brink has witnessed Johnson improve and mature.

“He has definitely become more of a leader,” Brink said. “He is playing very confident and has all the qualities that a good point guard should have.”

Staying positive

Stepping into a starting role on a competitive team can place a lot of pressure on any athlete.

A starting point guard position can be even more daunting considering the point gaurd controls the offense.

However, Johnson has taken everything in stride.

“This is what I’ve been working so hard for,” Johnson said. “Now it’s my time to lead, and it’s really exciting. I don’t think of it as negative pressure.”

As for his particular role on the team, Johnson has simplified it to the basics.

“I try to do whatever it takes to win,” Johnson said. “If that means shooting a lot, passing a lot, playing great defense.”

But one of the most important things he does is maintain a positive attitude on and off the court.

“There are a lot of ups and downs, but it’s how you respond to those ups and downs that is important,” Johnson said.

Basketball has taught him that attitude and character counts.

Johnson knows both are needed on and off the court.

Filed under: Featured, Johnnies by Tan Tuohy