Jake Johnson leaves Mark in Burlington Central-Shaw Local

Jake Johnson was a senior night photo op on the central basketball court of Burlington from the changing room.

“Come on, Jake!” said a teammate.

Johnson stormed through a door and ran back to the pitch where the rockets had just won another game in which teammates, friends and families had weakened, of which the last two cell phone cameras had ready to shoot.

Of course, he committed himself.

Johnson has not disappointed anyone in his four seasons of the university basketball. With its high school career after Central's 56-52 loss against Cary-Grove in the regional semi-final of class 3a on Wednesday, the multi-sports athlete left its brand not only the Rockets record board, but also outside the square.

“You all see out there,” said Johnson, looking at the square after 16 points in the 64:58 win of Central against the visit of Hampshire last week. “These are my friends that I played with my whole life. People played hard in front of me, showed me what it was like, so that's just the standard here at Central. We just play as hard as possible. “

Johnson won 607 rebounds in his career and left him a shy from Andrew Scharnowski (2019-23) for most in the program history. Johnson has the program records for career steals with 238 (Gavin Sarvis, 230, 2018-22), career 3 converters with 199 (Zach Schutta, 194, 2014-18) and career winners with 103 (Scharnowski, 99) in the eBergation.

Johnson scored his 1,000. Career point in a win against Lake Park and ended with 1,304 points (eights in program history).

Impressive successes for a man who intends to play at Missouri Southern State University Baseball of Division II. Johnson, a catcher, will also be a four-year-old university player in baseball.

“I think his greatest ability is that he is interested,” said Central basketball coach Brett Porto about his 6-foot 4 striker. “He takes care of this program very much, he takes care of the boys in the changing room and he has every four years. It starts there. When people see how much they will try and how much effort they have undertaken in everything that deals with everyone else. “

Johnson said he has been playing basketball with LJ Kerr and Caden West since fourth grade. Patrick Shell joined them about in the seventh grade. They were the only four seniors in the team this season.

And they won. Johnson was a newcomer in the Rockets 2021-22 team that achieved 31 victories. Kerr, West and Shell joined the university in the second year when Central won 29 games and a regional title for the second time in a row. The Rockets had 21 wins last season and 22 this season.

It is the career profit record that Johnson means most.

“It is my favorite because this is the only one who is not individualized,” he said. “It shows the success of the four teams in which I have been.”

The program record that Johnson is surprised that he owns is career steals. He says he partially writes “longevity” and instincts. After all, he is a catcher who often falls the base runner who try to steal.

“I'm not like a defender [in basketball]«, Said Johnson with a laugh. “I'm not out there for my defense. I do what I can, but I don't do that. ”

Porto gives Johnson more recognition than that. No matter whether it is basketball or baseball, Johnson is a student of the game, versed and undertakes to be the best of what he can be. Johnson ended the season with an average of 13.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.

“He reads scouting reports really well, plays with active hands and gets many tips, distractions and steals,” said Porto. “It is something we emphasize in our program and he does it at a high level. And then aggressively he really learned how to seal well, is a good screener, and that enables him to get many of his open looks for 3 from this campaign. “

A career is completed for a complete player.