Notre Dame's Johnson Leaves Coach Saying 'Wow'

Notre Dame High School boys basketball coach Bob Turco has seen his share of talented basketball players during his career. Isaiah Johnson is special.

“I’ve been doing this a long time and he’s one of the best, if not the best, sophomores I’ve ever coached,” Turco said. “His upside is tremendous. The things I see out of him now wow me because he’s so raw.

“I truly believe when it’s all said and done, if he stays healthy and continues to be the gym rat that he is, that he could be one of the best players to ever walk out of here.”

Johnson is among the top scorers in the Colonial Valley Conference, averaging 16.4 points per game, and is among the best at making 3-pointers, having drained 30 treys.

“I’ve been staying aggressive,” Johnson said. “I’ve got to come out aggressive and help this team win. I think I’m doing a pretty good job of it so far.”

Johnson scored nine points in the first game of the season and then scored at least 20 in six of the next nine. He tallied a season-best 29 points against West Windsor-Plainsboro North in January.

“He doesn’t have the [ballhandling] he needs yet and he’s still able to get to the basket on just pure athleticism,” Turco said. “He’s got to get better handle. He’s not getting bigger, so to play in college, he’s got to be one of those scoring point guards you love to have.

“We all know the point guard’s job is to make everyone better. Well, if you can score and make everyone else better, that’s an ‘oh my.’ If we get him to that level for the next two years he’s going to be a pretty dangerous player in this league.”

Johnson knows there are areas he needs to work on, but he’s not afraid to work. During the offseason, he runs every day and spends hours in the gym shooting 200 to 300 shots.

“I need to improve my control, my breaks,” Johnson said. “As I’m running, I have trouble stopping sometimes. I slip sometimes, or I stumble, or travel a little bit. I think over time I’ll get better at that.

“My strength is my quickness,” he added. “I feel like nobody in the CVC can cover me. My first step, I’ve been told, is crazy quick. I’m going to keep that up.”

Notre Dame is 12-8 going into tomorrow's (Feb. 12) game against West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South.

“The team is up and coming,” Johnson said. “I feel like our losses have been from foul shots and our mental game. I think our physical strength is fine. We just need to work on the mental side of it.”

As for his expectations for this season, Johnson’s were simple.

“I just wanted to play,” he said. “I just wanted to make my point.”

It’s safe to say he has made many.