University of Minnesota Athletics
No Need to Say Goodbye: Senior Guard Ben Johnson
1/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
"Basketball is the one thing that describes me," Johnson explained. "It is who I am. I think a lot of people that don't know me personally know me through basketball and associate me with it. It is not a bad thing because basketball is so important to me and I want it to continually be a major part of my life in the future."
Johnson began playing basketball in the fourth grade and hasn't put his basketball down since. He grew up in South Minneapolis and started off just playing once a week every Saturday morning. After his first year, he joined the travel team and trekked all over the state, playing nearly fifty games a year. Johnson knew he enjoyed the sport of basketball, but he was an active kid who participated in a variety of sports. He thought basketball was just another activity that everyone in his neighborhood would do in their free time. Johnson never imagined he would get to the point he is today.
"At that age I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to do everything I have done with basketball," Johnson said. "I did not realize I would still be playing at this age and at this level. Or even enjoy it as much as I do now. I have had many opportunities that I am thankful for."
Every young adult needs guidance from their loved ones. They need a family to be there to lend support through good and bad times. Throughout Johnson's life he has been lucky to have supportive parents that have guided him in the right direction. Hal and Katie Johnson have been there every step of the way and have always encouraged Ben to try different things in order to figure out what is best suited for his future.
"My parents understand how important basketball is to me and know how much time and effort I put into it," Johnson explained. "So I think they just want to make sure I get the most out of everything I have done and have no regrets. My mom and dad are happy that I have been able to play at this level and be successful. They are proud of the things that I have been able to do through basketball and they enjoy being involved."
Ben's parents describe him as a very private person and for him to be on such a public stage it has its positive and negative moments, but Ben has always looked to his teammates for support. He understands the importance of working together and realizes the success they strive for needs to be done as a team and if they fail they will do it as a team as well.
"In essence, this has been Ben's dream since he was a little boy, and Katie and I want to help him, as we would with our daughters, fulfill his dream," Hal explained. "We are so proud of him representing his home state and making the choices he has made throughout his life, from selecting the right group of friends to being the ultimate team player on the court."
Growing up and participating in a competitive sport can be difficult at times, but the one thing to remember is to never stop enjoying the game. Johnson sees the differences in basketball from when he was a kid to playing at the college level. The biggest difference between now and when he was younger is that there is more at stake. He used to just go out and play to be with his friends and the game really did not matter as long as they were having fun, but as he got older it became more competitive and the stakes got a lot higher. You begin to realize the importance of teamwork. As you get older there is a lot more on the line and the easier it is to loose track of why you staring playing in the first place.
"If you don't enjoy it then there is no point in doing it," Johnson explained. "You put so much time and effort into it and every day is basketball that you have to love the game. But it cannot consume your life, or you will end up not enjoying it anymore. It is essential to want to compete and not let it wear you down. On off days you have to get away. You have to have those days where you are away from everything. You have to take it for what it is and if you don't enjoy it than obviously it is not something for you."
Basketball has played a major role in Johnson's life and he believes it has all been worth it. He will never regret the energy he has put into the game because it has taught him so many things. He has become a true student of the game and it has allowed him to figure out what he wants to do with his life. If he wasn't playing basketball he doesn't know what he would be devoting his time to. Basketball has given him the chance to go places and meet a lot of people that he never dreamed of. It has opened a lot of doors for his future and he hopes to take full advantage of it.
"Basketball has taught me discipline, how to be a true competitor and how to never give up," Johnson said. "It has helped me persevere and know that if you have one bad day or one bad experience you have to pick yourself up and go back the next day and try over again. Rely on your teammates as they rely on you. You can't let things get you down. You have to fight through tough times. I believe that the good comes the bad, but as long as you work hard, stick to your morals and beliefs things will turn around and you will have much success."
Throughout Johnson's basketball career he has been given the chance to work with some great coaches that have helped him mature as an athlete and as a person. But the one person that has made the biggest impact on him was his high school coach Dave Thorson. When Johnson arrived at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis he describes himself as a nave kid who was oblivious to everything. However, Coach Thorson took him under his wing in the ninth grade and led him to where he is today as a Golden Gopher.
"He took me and guided me though this journey that taught me everything," Johnson commented. "He prepared me for college, basketball and in life. He has been a good mentor."
"It is funny how things work out," Johnson explained. "Coach Thorson went from the guy who yelled at me everyday to now being one of my good friends. His passion and knowledge of the game is what got me motivated to consider coaching someday." Since Johnson was a little boy in elementary school he has developed strong relationships with people from all areas of his life. The bond he formed with Coach Thorson and others he has met along the way will forever be in his mind and heart. The friendships he has made through basketball are something special. It is comforting to meet people that have the same interests and passions as you. It makes it easier to build a relationship that can last a life time.
"You are with the team so much and you go through everything together it is hard not to get close to one another," Johnson said. "There is no question that I will have a lot of life long friends through this program, as well as Northwestern and my high school days."
Johnson has no doubt that basketball will be an integral part of his life in the future. But there are other areas of his life that are important to him that he won't loose focus of or neglect their relevance in his life. Friends and family as well as other things are very important to Johnson and he will never be so consumed with basketball that it blinds him.
"There is a healthy balance you can have," Johnson stated. "You can have your priorities with basketball, but it is nice to have other things that you can fall back on that gets you away so when you come back to the game, whether it be playing or coaching, you are fresh and energized."
The future is always uncertain, but Johnson hopes to play basketball as long as he can. From there he wants to take his life experience with the game he loves and become a college coach.
He wants to use everything he has learned to teach others the game. Ben wants to give young kids the opportunity to succeed and love the game as much as he has since he was in the fourth grade.
"I can't envision myself not dealing with basketball," Johnson explained. "I am always trying to learn something new and become a student of the game because I know when I am done playing I can use everything I have learned and help develop young basketball players. Ever since I was younger, I have tried to pick up on every aspect of the game so I can be successful and coach some day."
"The practical experience of playing college basketball and the emotional experiences that go along with that are a gift Ben can share with young people years from now if he chooses to carry on his dream of coaching," Ben's father Hal commented.
As Johnson plays his last months of college basketball, there will be no need to say goodbye to the game that has defined him since his childhood. He will move on to the next part of his life and take the game with him.
Written by Media Relations Assistant Jessica Fleischmann. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.
When a part of one's life is approaching the end, everyone thinks about having to say goodbye. Having to move on and have those days and experiences be a memory that is triggered by the smallest thought, word or individual. It is a time to take what you've learned and apply it elsewhere and be proud of all you have done. This is what is going through the minds of most senior athletes at the University of Minnesota. However, as Ben Johnson plays his last year of college basketball, he has no intentions of saying goodbye to the sport that has defined him as a person for most of his life.
"Basketball is the one thing that describes me," Johnson explained. "It is who I am. I think a lot of people that don't know me personally know me through basketball and associate me with it. It is not a bad thing because basketball is so important to me and I want it to continually be a major part of my life in the future."
Johnson began playing basketball in the fourth grade and hasn't put his basketball down since. He grew up in South Minneapolis and started off just playing once a week every Saturday morning. After his first year, he joined the travel team and trekked all over the state, playing nearly fifty games a year. Johnson knew he enjoyed the sport of basketball, but he was an active kid who participated in a variety of sports. He thought basketball was just another activity that everyone in his neighborhood would do in their free time. Johnson never imagined he would get to the point he is today.
"At that age I had no idea that I would have the opportunity to do everything I have done with basketball," Johnson said. "I did not realize I would still be playing at this age and at this level. Or even enjoy it as much as I do now. I have had many opportunities that I am thankful for."
Every young adult needs guidance from their loved ones. They need a family to be there to lend support through good and bad times. Throughout Johnson's life he has been lucky to have supportive parents that have guided him in the right direction. Hal and Katie Johnson have been there every step of the way and have always encouraged Ben to try different things in order to figure out what is best suited for his future.
"My parents understand how important basketball is to me and know how much time and effort I put into it," Johnson explained. "So I think they just want to make sure I get the most out of everything I have done and have no regrets. My mom and dad are happy that I have been able to play at this level and be successful. They are proud of the things that I have been able to do through basketball and they enjoy being involved."
Ben's parents describe him as a very private person and for him to be on such a public stage it has its positive and negative moments, but Ben has always looked to his teammates for support. He understands the importance of working together and realizes the success they strive for needs to be done as a team and if they fail they will do it as a team as well.
"In essence, this has been Ben's dream since he was a little boy, and Katie and I want to help him, as we would with our daughters, fulfill his dream," Hal explained. "We are so proud of him representing his home state and making the choices he has made throughout his life, from selecting the right group of friends to being the ultimate team player on the court."
Growing up and participating in a competitive sport can be difficult at times, but the one thing to remember is to never stop enjoying the game. Johnson sees the differences in basketball from when he was a kid to playing at the college level. The biggest difference between now and when he was younger is that there is more at stake. He used to just go out and play to be with his friends and the game really did not matter as long as they were having fun, but as he got older it became more competitive and the stakes got a lot higher. You begin to realize the importance of teamwork. As you get older there is a lot more on the line and the easier it is to loose track of why you staring playing in the first place.
"If you don't enjoy it then there is no point in doing it," Johnson explained. "You put so much time and effort into it and every day is basketball that you have to love the game. But it cannot consume your life, or you will end up not enjoying it anymore. It is essential to want to compete and not let it wear you down. On off days you have to get away. You have to have those days where you are away from everything. You have to take it for what it is and if you don't enjoy it than obviously it is not something for you."
Basketball has played a major role in Johnson's life and he believes it has all been worth it. He will never regret the energy he has put into the game because it has taught him so many things. He has become a true student of the game and it has allowed him to figure out what he wants to do with his life. If he wasn't playing basketball he doesn't know what he would be devoting his time to. Basketball has given him the chance to go places and meet a lot of people that he never dreamed of. It has opened a lot of doors for his future and he hopes to take full advantage of it.
"Basketball has taught me discipline, how to be a true competitor and how to never give up," Johnson said. "It has helped me persevere and know that if you have one bad day or one bad experience you have to pick yourself up and go back the next day and try over again. Rely on your teammates as they rely on you. You can't let things get you down. You have to fight through tough times. I believe that the good comes the bad, but as long as you work hard, stick to your morals and beliefs things will turn around and you will have much success."
Throughout Johnson's basketball career he has been given the chance to work with some great coaches that have helped him mature as an athlete and as a person. But the one person that has made the biggest impact on him was his high school coach Dave Thorson. When Johnson arrived at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis he describes himself as a nave kid who was oblivious to everything. However, Coach Thorson took him under his wing in the ninth grade and led him to where he is today as a Golden Gopher.
"He took me and guided me though this journey that taught me everything," Johnson commented. "He prepared me for college, basketball and in life. He has been a good mentor."
"It is funny how things work out," Johnson explained. "Coach Thorson went from the guy who yelled at me everyday to now being one of my good friends. His passion and knowledge of the game is what got me motivated to consider coaching someday." Since Johnson was a little boy in elementary school he has developed strong relationships with people from all areas of his life. The bond he formed with Coach Thorson and others he has met along the way will forever be in his mind and heart. The friendships he has made through basketball are something special. It is comforting to meet people that have the same interests and passions as you. It makes it easier to build a relationship that can last a life time.
"You are with the team so much and you go through everything together it is hard not to get close to one another," Johnson said. "There is no question that I will have a lot of life long friends through this program, as well as Northwestern and my high school days."
Johnson has no doubt that basketball will be an integral part of his life in the future. But there are other areas of his life that are important to him that he won't loose focus of or neglect their relevance in his life. Friends and family as well as other things are very important to Johnson and he will never be so consumed with basketball that it blinds him.
"There is a healthy balance you can have," Johnson stated. "You can have your priorities with basketball, but it is nice to have other things that you can fall back on that gets you away so when you come back to the game, whether it be playing or coaching, you are fresh and energized."
The future is always uncertain, but Johnson hopes to play basketball as long as he can. From there he wants to take his life experience with the game he loves and become a college coach.
He wants to use everything he has learned to teach others the game. Ben wants to give young kids the opportunity to succeed and love the game as much as he has since he was in the fourth grade.
"I can't envision myself not dealing with basketball," Johnson explained. "I am always trying to learn something new and become a student of the game because I know when I am done playing I can use everything I have learned and help develop young basketball players. Ever since I was younger, I have tried to pick up on every aspect of the game so I can be successful and coach some day."
"The practical experience of playing college basketball and the emotional experiences that go along with that are a gift Ben can share with young people years from now if he chooses to carry on his dream of coaching," Ben's father Hal commented.
As Johnson plays his last months of college basketball, there will be no need to say goodbye to the game that has defined him since his childhood. He will move on to the next part of his life and take the game with him.
Written by Media Relations Assistant Jessica Fleischmann. She welcomes comments at gophers@umn.edu.
