Without a doubt, former OLSH, Moon star Puff Johnson ready to confront Duke, Final Four
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When he was a freshman at Our Lady of Sacred Heart, Puff Johnson made 11 consecutive 3-point shots.
A year later, he was named second-team all-state six months before his 18th birthday.
Then, as a junior, he averaged 22.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game while leading Moon to a PIAA championship, earning first-team all-state honors and being named 2019 Tribune-Review Player of the Year.
So when Johnson was confronted with the word “doubt” before North Carolina’s practice Tuesday, he acted like he didn’t know its meaning. It certainly isn’t a part of his vocabulary.
The word came up when a reporter inquired if Johnson and the Tar Heels, who will meet Duke on Saturday night in a Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, doubted themselves after losing to Pitt on Feb. 16 — at the Smith Center, for goodness sakes.
“Any doubt?” he said, sounding almost insulted. “I wouldn’t say there was any doubt because we knew what we were capable of, and we knew what we could do. We knew our abilities.
“So I wouldn’t say any doubt. We just had to come together as a team, and we came together at the right time.”
The loss to Pitt could be considered a turning point for North Carolina (28-9). The Tar Heels won 10 of their next 11 games to reach the Final Four, while Pitt (11-21) lost its next five to end the season.
What reversed the fortunes of the Tar Heels, who were 18-8 and getting zero votes in the Associated Press Top 25 poll?
Johnson is too modest to mention his role without being prompted. But after the Pitt game, his minutes and points per game increased from 7.0 and 1.5 to 13.0 and 4.5. He scored 16 points at N.C. State and 11 in a first-round NCAA Tournament game against Marquette.
“I wouldn’t say I take credit,” he said, “but I feel like just bringing a certain level of intensity is important each and every game.
“As a team, we’ve brought, towards the end of the season, more intensity, more fire to each and every game. That’s the reason we won 10 of 11.
“We knew what was at stake. We were considered a bubble team at that time. We knew we needed to play our best basketball down the stretch for the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. I’d have to say we’re playing our best basketball.”
Johnson has accepted his role as a player who comes off the bench, plays solid defense and doesn’t make mistakes. For the season, he has committed three turnovers — two in January, one in February and none in March when they really matter.
“In the beginning of the year, coach wanted everyone to know their role,” said Johnson, who didn’t play until Jan. 15 because of a hip strain. “I think my role on this team is to defend, give everything I have each and every play, play with effort, energy and toughness and be a good team player. Just make the right basketball plays.
“The big thing I have prided myself on my whole basketball career is making winning plays, plays that won’t necessarily come up on the stat sheet but plays that will help my team be successful and win.
“I’ve had good success at winning at each level just because of the winning plays I try to make.”
Johnson is the younger brother of Cam Johnson, who is averaging 12.8 points per game for the NBA’s best team, the Phoenix Suns. Cam Johnson graduated from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and played three seasons at Pitt before transferring to North Carolina, where he became an All-ACC player and a first-round draft choice.
Puff will play in the Final Four — something his brother never did — but he talks to Cam for counsel and follows his lead on how to prepare for games.
“He said, ‘Congratulations and keep on playing hard and doing what you’re doing. It’s going to pay off. The Final Four is something you have to take in one day at a time and don’t look ahead, don’t look back. Be focused and enjoy the moment.’ ”
Born Donovan Christopher Johnson, Puff said he prepares for games by sitting at his locker and listening to Bible verse Psalm 23.
“Cameron’s done it. I’ve done it,” he said. “It helps me get locked in. Not necessarily calm me down, but just to know no matter what happens in the game, God’s with me. That’s a big thing.
“You feel the pressure. You feel the nerves before the game. But once you get out there, it’s a regular basketball game that I’ve been playing since I was 3 years old.
“It’s what they call it. It’s a game. Have fun doing it. Once you get out there, it’s just a normal game, no matter how many people are watching, no matter how many people are invested in it.”
Most of the Johnson family will be in New Orleans, but the Suns’ road trip has Cam in Memphis on Friday and Oklahoma City on Sunday.
“Cam will have to find a way to get down there,” Puff said.