WC's Johnson carries on family hoops tradition

By Rick Mauch 

With all due respect to his cousin, DeKyron Nicks, Rodney Johnson has his sights on being the best basketball player ever in his family. 

Nicks is considered by many to be one of the best players ever to play for the Bryan High School Vikings. After an all-state high school career, he was a standout at Temple College and went on to play at Southeastern Louisiana University. 

"My cousin is the reason I wear No. 5 today. Watching him play was exciting for our whole family," Johnson said. "He's my inspiration and I want to be better than him." 

No doubt Nicks is proud of what his cousin is doing as part of the best Weatherford College Coyote team in a long time. They've been a part of the national rankings and at the time of this article were 18-4 overall. Johnson was second on the team in scoring at 15.2 points per game and the top rebounder with an average of 7.7. He led the conference in field goal percentage (58.6) and was fifth in rebounds. 

But Nicks is also likely proud of Johnson for how he has handled a trying time in his college career. Though he was a starter at Panola College last year as a freshman, his time with the Ponies was challenging because of some friction and he just wasn't happy. 

So Johnson transferred to Weatherford. However, he didn't just leave the situation behind, he made a concerted effort to make amends with the person he was having the conflict with - and he said he learned a valuable lesson to take with him the rest of his life. 

"I learned when to choose your battles. There's always a right time and it's important to know when that is and when it isn't," Johnson said. "No one did anything bad to each other or anything, but I'm glad we've talked since. I apologized for my part and he said he's wishing the best for me. We're good, and I feel like that's important as we move forward." 

Johnson chose Weatherford College in a roundabout way from a friend of a friend, sort of. 

"I had a senior on my team who was recruited here but went to Sam Houston. He had a graduate assistant there named Payne Andrus who was here last season (he's the director of basketball operations at Sam Houston) and he recruited me here," Johnson said. "I owe a lot to Payne. 

"Plus I have family in Fort Worth and I love family being able to come see me play. But the connection Zach had with Coach Payne really affected me, and then when I talked to Xoach Payne I understood why." 

However he found his way to WC, Coyotes coach Chris Lewis is glad Johnson is here. 

"Rodney is everything you want in a player as a coach. Comes in and works hard every day with a great attitude trying to get better," Lewis said. "He's been our leader all year and we rely on him to make sure all the guys are doing what they're supposed to do." 

Johnson and Nicks aren't the only basketball standouts in the family. Johnson's dad was also a star player at Bryan, as was his great aunt. They influenced him when he was young - as did Nicks, of course. 

"I started playing in first grade. Around seventh grade I realized I wanted basketball to be a part of the rest of my life," Johnson said. 

Johnson tried playing football in middle school. He also tried soccer and baseball, but basketball is his true sports love. 

Like many, his dream is to make it to the NBA someday. If not, he would like to be a basketball analyst. 

"I just love talking basketball," he said. "I just want to be around the game, but preferably playing." 

And, at some point, he wants to be a successful businessman. He's majoring in business. 

"I want to own a lot of businesses, so I want to know how it works," he said. 

But before all that he wants to move to a higher level of the sport following his only season as a Coyote. 

"I know he will be successful at the next level because of the person and player he is," Lewis said. 

 Johnson's had some offers, but said he's not making any decisions now as he focuses on helping the Coyotes hopefully have their best season in school history. 

 And he looks forward to his cousin seeing him play some more. 

 "He came to the McLennan game and I'm sure he'll be at the Temple game," Johnson said. "That Temple game will be interesting. He wanted me to go there, but I think I'm in the best place for me.