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Jerry Johnson (basketball player)

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Jerry Johnson
Personal information
Born (1982-04-23) April 23, 1982 (age 42)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NationalityKazakhstani / American
Listed height183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Listed weight82 kg (181 lb)
Career information
High schoolJ. P. McCaskey
(Lancaster, Pennsylvania)
CollegeRider (2001–2005)
NBA draft2005: undrafted
Playing career2005–present
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
Career history
2005–2006Polpharma Starogard Gdańsk
2006–2007Mersin BB
2007–2008Stade Clermontois BA
2008–2010Spirou Charleroi
2010–2011Lietuvos rytas Vilnius
2011Galatasaray
2011–2016Astana
2016Guaros de Lara
2016–2017Büyükçekmece Basketbol
2017–2018Neptūnas Klaipėda
Career highlights and awards

Jerry Jamar Johnson (born April 23, 1982) is an American-born naturalised Kazakhstani professional basketball player who last played for Neptūnas Klaipėda of the Lithuanian Basketball League.

Playing as a point guard, he played college basketball at Rider, earning a slew of personal awards. Since 2011 he has been playing for Astana in Kazakhstan, he later became a citizen of the country, playing for the national team.

College career

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The Lancaster, Pennsylvania native played at J. P. McCaskey High School from 1997 to 2001, scoring a school record 1,792 points.[1]

Johnson was recruited by the Rider to play in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) of the NCAA Division I. He was predicted to struggle to in obtaining sufficient SAT scores to be academically eligible, reportedly only receiving a scholarship offer from Rider.[2]

In his freshman season in 2001–02 he earned the MAAC Rookie of the Year title, also being selected to the All-MAAC third team.[3]

For his sophomore season, despite adapting to a move from point guard to shooting guard,[2] he was selected to the All-MAAC First Team, ditto in his junior season.[3]

After the 2004–05 season, he was selected to the All-MAAC First Team for the third consecutive time,[3] also earning an MAAC tournament First Team selection after Rider reached the final.[4] To cap off the season, the senior was elected male Rider Athlete of the Year.[5]

Johnson finished his Broncs career with 2,047 points – second best career record for the program – in 116 games (17.6 per game, fifth best), also adding 421 assists (fifth best) at an average of 3.6 (seventh best) whilst his 102 three-pointers in 2004–05 established a Rider record.[6][7] A three-time team MVP, he was inducted into the Rider Hall of Fame in 2013.[8]

Professional career

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Johnson participated in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament but went undrafted in the 2005 NBA draft, an NBA Summer League participation with the Los Angeles Clippers was also unsuccessful.[1]

Johnson started his career with Polpharma Starogard Gdańsk in the Polish Basketball League, averaging 20 points and 5.8 assists in more than 36 minutes per game.[9]

After an unsuccessful trial with Greek side Panellinios the next summer,[10] he moved to Turkish Basketball League side Mersin BB.[11] He posted 10.9 points and 3.17 assists (16th best) in nearly 27 minutes on average in the league.[12]

He was contracted to Chypriot side APOEL during the 2007 offseason, before joining French LNB Pro A side Stade Clermontois BA in October.[13] The side struggled despite Johnson contributing 15.3 points and 3.9 assists per game,[14] with a relegation mathematically confirmed in April 2008, he moved to Belgian League side Spirou Charleroi that same month.[10][11]

He was a key factor in Charleroi's league title in 2008, contributing 9.5 points and 3 assists in 11 games, following which his contract was extended for two years.[15] He was a crucial contributor to the Belgians run to the European second tier EuroCup Last 16 contributing 14.9 points (on 45.5% from the three point line) and 3.4 assists in 10 games.[10] The Charleroi side would again win the league in 2009, adding the Belgian Cup as well.[16] In October 2009 he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of for nearly two months,[17] he only played two EuroCup games that season. The side would add a third consecutive league title in 2010.

After the expiry of his contract, Johnson moved to Lithuanian league side Lietuvos rytas also playing in the EuroLeague, Europe's elite competition,[18] and the VTB United League. However, after playing a handful of games in the domestic league and United League, Johnson suffered a foot injury in October that sidelined him for more than a month.[19]

After playing a few more games for Lietuvos rytas (none in the EuroLeague), Johnson returned to the Turkish league in January 2011, signing with Galatasaray for the rest of the season.[16] He contributed 11.6 points and 3.2 assists in 23 minutes per game as Galatasaray reached the championship finals, losing to Fenerbahçe despite his 19 points and 8 assists in the decisive game.[20] He also played for Guaros de Lara in 2016, Turkish team Büyükçekmece Basketbol for the 2016–2017 season and spent the 2017–2018 season with Neptūnas, helping the depleted team win 3rd place in the Lithuanian league.

BC Astana

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During the next off-season his agent secured him a contract,[1] to play for newly formed Astana in both the Kazakhstan Basketball League and the VTB United League, he signed a one-year contract in June 2011.[21]

In his first year in Kazakhstan, the American won both the domestic league and cup, in the 2011–12 VTB United League Astana finished 7th of their group with a 7–9 record, he scored 14 points to help the side achieve their first victory in the league against Žalgiris.[22] The now 30-year-old extended his contract for two years in the summer of 2012.[1][23]

The 2012–13 season proved a repeat domestically, with Astana again achieving a domestic double, with Johnson earning All-tournament team selections on both occasions.[24][25] He was also an important contributor to the Kazakhstani side reaching the VTB United League playoffs in only its second participation in the league.[26]

The next season, Johnson had an injury scare in the second United League game of the season after hurting his back, however he came back the next game to pick up a Week MVP award. He posted 14.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 7.5 assists, leading the league in assists and being selected as one of the contenders for the season MVP award.[27][28] Now captaining the squad, Johnson was a "driving force" for Astana,[29] leading them to another playoff appearance and domestic double (again a First Team selection in both the Kazakhstan league and cup).[30][31]

In the 2014–15 season, the guard again led the United League in assists, earning another MVP nomination as he contributed 16.2 points and 8.3 assists.[32] He was crucial in Astana's third consecutive playoff run, though they again stalled in the first round, heavily beaten by perennial champions CSKA Moscow, with his 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists in game 3 not enough.[33] That season also marked the European debut of Astana, in the third tier 2014–15 EuroChallenge, he led his team to the Last 16 of the competition, with a Week 2 MVP performance of 29 points (7 for 9 in three-point shots) and 13 assists.[34] He also was selected in the All-Final Four Team of the Kazakhstani league as Astana won its fourth consecutive title,[35] though they did win the cup.

In June 2015, Johnson renewed his contract until the end of the 2015–16 season.[23]

National team career

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After two years and as many national championships and cups in Kazakhstan, Johnson was offered Kazakhstani citizenship in 2013, in order to play for the senior Kazakhstan national team at the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. He accepted the offer, becoming the first naturalised player for Kazakhstan,[36] he was reunited with Astana head coach Matteo Boniciolli on the side.[37]

Though he was bothered by niggles to the shoulder and hamstring,[36] Johnson posted a team second 12.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and a team high 5 assists per game as Kazakhstan started the tournament with 3 wins before losing the rest of their games,[38] including a 58–88 loss to the Philippines which saw Johnson restricted to 8 points.[39]

"He hurt his right shoulder in a bumping accident during a practice game with the PBA team San Mig Coffee and there is pain when he goes up for a three-pointer," said Boniciolli. "Jerry's hamstring is also bothering him. That's why he didn't play against Iran. Our medical staff is working on him. We want him to be at a 100 percent."

He was unable to represent Kazakhstan in the 2014 Asian Games, as Olympic Council of Asia rules required three years of residency.[40]

Honours

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Individual

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Professional

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College

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Team

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Club

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Jones, Gordie (20 May 2012). "Jerry Johnson reflects at 30". LancasterOnline. LNP Media Group. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b Lento, Angela. "Player, leader, father". Collegeinsider.com. Basketball Times. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via Collegeinsider.
  3. ^ a b c "All-Time All-MAAC Honors". Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Archived from the original on 12 March 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  4. ^ "2005 MAAC Basketball Championship". Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Buffalo (New York). 3 June 2005. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  5. ^ "6–30–05 Jerry Johnson 2004–05 Rider Athlete of the Year". Rider Broncs. Lawrenceville (New Jersey). 30 June 2005. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  6. ^ "MBB 1,000 Point Scorers". Rider Broncs. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  7. ^ "MBB Career Assist Leaders". Rider Broncs. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Rider Hall of Fame Bio". Rider Broncs. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  9. ^ "Jerry Johnson". Tauron Basket Liga (in Polish). Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Lawlor, Frank (23 February 2009). "Jerry Johnson, Spirou Basket". Eurocup Basketball. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Le moteur Johnson à plein régime" [The engine Johnson at full throttle]. L'Avenir (Belgian newspaper) (in French). 9 December 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Jerry Johnson – 2006–2007". TBLStat.net. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Saison 2007/2008 – Jerry Johnson" [2007–2008 season – Jerry Johnson]. Ligue Nationale de Basket (in French). 9 October 2007. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  14. ^ "Le moteur Johnson à plein régime" [The engine Johnson at full throttle]. L'Avenir (Belgian newspaper) (in French). 9 December 2008. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Spirou Charleroi inks Sekularac, keeps Johnson". EuroCup Basketball. 3 June 2008. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Galatasaray grabs playmaker Johnson". Eurocup Basketball. 10 January 2011. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  17. ^ "Spirou Basket: Jerry Johnson out 4–6 weeks". Eurocup Basketball. 24 October 2009. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  18. ^ "Lietuvos Rytas signs Jerry Johnson, Cemal Nalga". Euroleague. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  19. ^ "L. Rytas loses Johnson long-term". EuroLeague. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  20. ^ "Jerry Johnson – 2010–2011". TBLStat.net. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  21. ^ "American guard joined Astana basketball team". Tengrinews. Effective Media Liaison JSC. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  22. ^ "The first victory of "Astana" – and directly over "Zalgiris"!". VTB United League. Kaunas (Lithuania). 9 October 2011. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  23. ^ a b "Ramunas Butautas: I am glad that Jerry Johnson will stay in BC Astana". BC Astana. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  24. ^ "Budivelnik and Astana – winners of Cups in their countries". VTB United League. 26 March 2013. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  25. ^ "Astana wins Kazakh league". VTB United League. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  26. ^ "Astana. Striving forward". VTB United League. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  27. ^ "From Gerasimenko to Kurtinaitis: 15 stars of the regular season". VTB United League. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  28. ^ "The regular-season MVP". VTB United League. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  29. ^ "Valery Tikhonenko: Astana is now an established brand". VTB United League. 28 August 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  30. ^ "Astana wins Kazakhstan Cup". VTB United League. 4 March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  31. ^ "Astana captures Kazakh championship". VTB United League. 23 April 2014. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  32. ^ "10 contenders for Most Valuable Player". VTB United League. 13 April 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  33. ^ "CSKA first to reach semifinals". VTB United League. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  34. ^ "Johnson is Last 16 Week 2 top performer". FIBA Europe. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  35. ^ "Astana wins Kazakh championship". VTB United League. 11 April 2015. Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  36. ^ a b Henson, Joaquin (9 August 2015). "Do-or-die duel a dream come true". The Philippine Star. Manila (Philippines). Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  37. ^ Gross, Mike (9 May 2013). "Pro basketball: McCaskey grad Jerry Johnson a hit in Kazakhstan". LancasterOnline. LNP Media Group. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  38. ^ "Kazakhstan: 5 – Jerri Johnson". FIBA. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  39. ^ Beltran, Nelson (10 August 2015). "El Granada explosion lifts Gilas to Final Four". The Philippine Star. Manila (Philippines). Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  40. ^ Henson, Joaquin (24 September 2014). "Teams hurt by residency rule in Asiad". The Philippine Star. Manila (Philippines). Retrieved 19 June 2015.
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