North Carolina State University Athletics
Johnson Cherishing Final Moments of Career
3/15/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 15, 2012
Columbus, Ohio - Alex Johnson's first and only season on NC State men's basketball team resulted in his only NCAA Tournament appearance in his career. The point guard graduated from Cal State Bakersfield after last season, and still had one more year of eligibility left. He wanted to go to a school that he could get into the NCAA Tournament, something he was able to accomplish in his last collegiate season while starting his master program in Family, Life, and Youth Development.
Johnson has been grateful for the opportunity to come to NC State to help lead the team to their first NCAA Tournament since 2006. The Toronto native has logged the second most minutes off the bench with 19.9 minutes, but is second on the team with 3.0 assists per game.
Johnson talks about the upcoming postseason and what it means to him to make the NCAA Tournament in his final season. The Wolfpack will play against San Diego State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio at 12:40 et on Friday.
Q: Why did you chose to come to NC State for your graduate program?
A: I wanted to play in the conference for a chance to play for an ACC title or get a bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Q: How special was it to make the NCAA Tournament in your last season?
A: Words can't describe it. It's been a blessing. I give all the praise to God and when I finished at Cal State Bakersfield, I prayed to God that I would be able to attend school somewhere else and He provided that opportunity for me here. It's been a roller coaster ride, a lot of up and downs, but it's been fun.
Q: What was the celebration like when the team found it was going to NCAA Tournament?
A: The whole celebration, who know I had one of the guys, talking to me and he was like `it's over, man. We didn't get in.' I'm just staring at the screen and I'm like I know we've got to be in and you know, just having faith. When they announced the fifth ACC team, knowing it was us, was overwhelming. So many emotions.
Q: How did you handle your nerves after losing to North Carolina in the ACC Tournament until Selection Show on Sunday?
A: It was tough. To lose like that to Carolina, we had a couple of chances at the end to put the game away and we didn't take advantage and to know that if we did we would have been a lock for the tournament. Then losing to them, we pretty much put our future in the committee's hands. It was kind of tough to sit around and wait and not knowing if we were in or not.
Q: What is your role on the team? A: I see myself as an energy guy. If things are down or they aren't going right, picking guys up, being a leader and showing the maturity that bring. So, I lead guys, Lorenzo (Brown), C.J. Leslie. You know, be that outlet for them.
Q: How special was it for you on senior night?
A: It was amazing game for us. Our backs was against the walls and it was a must win for us and being able to play in front of my mom, for her to be there for me on senior night was a blessing. It was a great milestone in my life and I'm glad that she was around to be able to see that, and to share the experience with me.
Q: How many games has she been able to attend this season?
A: I want to say four or five. She plans on coming to Columbus. It should be a good experience for the both of us.
Q: You have the second most assists per game on the team as a reserve player.
A: We have so many weapons on this team. Lorenzo can score the ball, C.J. Williams, Scott Wood, I can go down the list, C.J. Leslie, Richard Howell. We've got a lot of weapons. The difference between Cal State and here, they needed me to be a scoring point guard, whereas here, I can be a more natural position of a pure point guard. So, I don't need to put up fifteen or sixteen every night. Maybe score five or six and the rest are assists. So, I kind of take advantage of that. You know, to have guys like Scott, one of the best shooting guards in the country and C.J. Leslie, one of the most athletic wings in the country, it's a blessing to have those guys. It makes the game so much easier.
Q: How do you handle the nerves about the NCAA Tournament?
A: That night that we found that we were in, it was exciting and it's a memory that I'm going to have forever. But, I kind of want to get away from that right now and really focus on San Diego State, our first opponent and really just fit in and try to win that game and move on throughout the tournament, one game at a time. You know, it's nice to know that you are in and now you've got to put in the work on why you made the tournament. Just getting focused and getting ready for San Diego State on Friday.
