Malcolm Johnson '19 Recruiting Profile

Starting at the age of 5 my mother put me in my town's  recreation teams for basketball, baseball and later football.  I was never the biggest kid, but always the fastest, even though I had asthma.  I ended up liking basketball the most.  My Grandfather, uncles, cousins, Godfathers, Father, even my aunt and mom all love the game.  My uncles and cousin's played basketball in HS, and  my Father and one cousin also played in College.  So the game was always there.  My family came to just about every game and supported me.   As I got older,  competition became more intense.  I remember when I was in 6th grade, I made the travel team.  One night I went to practice and saw, my friends leaving as I was coming into the gym.  I found out that night that the athletic director decided to have two teams, the A team and the B team...I was on the B team.  I had friends that night who laughed at me.  The B team players were 5th and 6th graders, but I didn't let that get to me.  It actually made me go harder at practices and at games.  I was one of the starters, so while had I friends on the 6th grade team, they were sitting on the bench.  I learned I was faster than I thought and could play good defense. By mid-season my hard work paid off, I was asked to play on the full 6th grade team  as  a starter and never looked back.  I then made the 7th 8th  grade teams as a starter.  I also made my high school teams being selected early on  and starting.  I remember once, one of the guys that laughed at me in the 6th grade, told me a few years later that I had passed him.  The experience taught me a lot, a "no" the first time out should not stop anyone from working harder to get to the "yes".  It also showed me , not to judge a person based on what they look like, how tall, how short.  I had asthma, but it never stopped or slowed me down.  I focused on trying to be faster, work on ball handling and my passing game. Over the years I've worked with basketball trainers on building my skill and conditioning my body.  I still continue to work with trainers even through my high school season. I learned patience and also humility.

Hitting 9th grade, I didn't struggle on the court but in the classroom.  The local high school was large and I have to admit (just not to my parents) that I was getting lost, caught up with friends and not focusing.  My parents transferred me to a smaller  high school.  Once again I learned lessons on humility.  The school is not known for its sports teams like the larger high school I attended.  While I thought coming into the 10th grade, I would be placed on Varsity, I went to JV.  I couldn't believe it, but again, I humbled myself and worked hard.  Our JV team ended up winning more games than the prior years. Later during the season, I started playing with the Varsity team. But most importantly,  my grades started to improve, they weren't perfect but they improved.  I am now in my Junior year and my team is struggling.  However, the struggles have forced me to be more focused on setting up plays for my teammates. As point guard the team relays on me  to set up plays. I try to bring out the best in all of us. The best part of my team is that we play hard to the end of the game no matter the score. I'm learning how to be a better leader and how to be  patient. I am also working hard in the classroom with a goal of maintaining my grades and doing my best so that I can get into a good college. I also want coaches  to see  I am serious about my school work.  My goal  is to go to college, where I can not only play basketball but also get a good education and enter into a successful career.

I come from a family of entrepreneurs, my Grandfather owed his own company, my Godfather started his own business a few years ago and recently told us the patent that he filed was accepted.  Also I have a cousin that start his own online business selling watches that he designs himself.  So I like the idea of owning my own business after I work in the field and learn operations and sales.  Until then, I am working with my Godfather on the idea of designing shirts to sell online.  I have another cousin who start designing her own t-shirts and sweatshirts.  So, I think this is in my blood.

Lastly, I would like any coach that is looking at my profile to know, I will take on the best player on the opposite team, I will not back down from the challenge.  I will support my teammates and I am coachable.