Brendan Johnson '25 Recruiting Profile

I would like to major in the sports management field, as basketball has always been my interest and motivation. I’ve always had a passion for basketball as it has helped me gain many personal skills in my life. Sports have helped me gain the traits of grit & perseverance. Throughout the years of my life I used to have trouble sticking with tasks and following up with the things I wanted to do. I always obeyed the rules but had trouble with my confidence and focus, basketball helped build my mind and confidence in myself.

Sports has helped instill grit and perseverance throughout the years for me in many ways. I remember my 8th grade year going into my freshman year the world was still dealing with Covid and its new adjustments, and I had just made this travel basketball team. On the way to my first practice they shut the gym down because one of the janitors had caught contact Covid. Due to the gym being shut down I had to figure out something on my own as far as working out and trying to prepare for highschool ball. 

Over time I started to lose my focus and get lazy resulting in me gaining weight and slacking on basketball. I knew I had to get back on my grind and start back working out, I just couldn’t put my mind to it. One day I went outside and just happened to see a basketball and picked it up. I started to play around with it and felt a sign of comfort instantly. I hadn’t hooped in a while, and I had gained more weight. I did not feel like myself. As time passed I slowly got back into it at school but I was frustrated with the game because I wasn't as good as I used to be. 

During a game I started to give up on my teammates and show my emotions through body language. It ultimately rubbed off on my teammates, the crowd started to notice, and we started to lose. I had to gather myself and get an understanding of what I was there to do and improve my mindset before I affected the final outcome. I started to engage with my teammates and cool down and get back into my groove. I noticed that I could not accomplish anything being upset. Once I locked back into the game we won the game and I felt so proud that I pushed through. After that game I have not put the ball back down and I am even more motivated to play in college and ultimately  not only work but learn alongside other great athletes such as myself.