AUSTIN JOHNSON FORWARD SOPHOMORE 6-8 250 BLAIR ACADEMY ELKINS PARK, PA.
21 Second-year sophomore...Skilled big man noted as a great passer out of the post...Has added over 20-pounds of muscle to his frame since his freshman season...Signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Rutgers in November 2008. 2009-10 (2.6 ppg/2.1 rpg): Played in all 32 games as a true freshman...Averaged 11.0 minutes-per-game...Made 52 percent (27-52) of his field goal attempts...Shot 4-5 to score 12 points at 17/18 Pittsburgh (3/6)...Deposited a pair of free throws with five seconds on the clock to ensure 68-64 victory at DePaul (2/16)...Played a season-high 22 minutes versus No. 4 Villanova (1/20)...Grabbed a season-high six rebounds at Providence (1/9)...Made 9-of-9 free throws to score a seasonhigh 13 points vs. NJIT (12/19). Scholastic: A 2009 graduate of the Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J….A 2008-09 Newark Star-Ledger First Team All-Prep selection...Averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and four assists as senior team captain in 2008-09 to help BA to a 194 record and the state Prep A title under head coach Joe Mantegna...A two-time First Team All Mid-Atlantic Prep League honoree…Named to the 2009 Jordan Brand Suburban All-Star Team…Cited by ESPN.com as the nation’s 71st power forward prospect…Averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior…A Reebok All-America Camp participant rated as the fifth-best prospect in the Garden State by NJHoops.com…Was selected MVP of the Hoop Group Southern Invitational in Charlottesville, Va. as a sophomore…Played AAU basketball for the Playaz Basketball Club…Blair has produced numerous Division I basketball prospects, including NBA players Royal Ivey, Luol Deng and Charlie Villanueve.
Courtside with Austin Johnson One word to describe Coach Rice: Intense Favorite Rutgers basketball player, past or present: Craig Carter Best friend on another collegiate team: Jarrett Mann, Stanford Best player ever faced: Greg Monroe Favorite class/subject: Economics Favorite place to hang out on campus: My dorm room If I wasn’t playing basketball, I’d be: A regular student at Rutgers Favorite professional athlete: Paul Milsap, Utah Jazz Favorite professional sports team: Philadelphia Phillies People you most admire: My mom and dad Favorite book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald One word to describe yourself on the court: Versatile One word to describe yourself off the court: Focused Few people know that I: Am one of nine children Favorite food: Chicken alfredo Person who had greatest influence on athletics career: Jimmy Salmons When you started playing basketball and why: In third grade because I was the tallest kid in my grade Why you chose to attend Rutgers: Great athletics and academics and it’s close to home Favorite movies: Training Day, Batman Best actor to play you in a movie: Will Smith Favorite musicians: Kid Cudi, Chip tha Ripper, Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z Favorite TV show: Everybody Hates Chris Famous person you have met: Michael Jordan The best things about basketball: The team aspect. It’s a different world between the lines. Hobby outside of basketball: Collecting sneakers Why you selected your jersey #: It’s the age my brother was when he passed away. It’s also his favorite athlete’s (Deion Sanders) number.
Personal: Born November 28, 1989…Son of Stacy Williams and James Johnson.
RUTGERS BASKETBALL
•
45