Wesley Johnson: Rookie Sensation

Iowa State freshman forward Wesley Johnson is quietly putting together one of the nation's best rookie seasons. The yearling from Corsicana, Texas has literally come from nowhere to rank as one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference.

His statistics are eye-popping for a freshman. He is the second-best rebounder in the Big 12 at 8.7 rpg., which is the third-best average among NCAA freshmen. His seven double-doubles are also second in the Big 12 and Johnson is on pace to break the ISU mark for most double-doubles for a freshman. He has already been honored twice by the Big 12 for his performances, earning Big 12 Player of the Week honors (Dec. 18) and recently winning Big 12 Rookie of the Week kudos after his last-second tip-in secured ISU's come-from-behind win over Missouri on Saturday.

The incredible start is even more remarkable when you put his situation in proper perspective. You see, Johnson was a man without a school to play for last year and was still waiting for a college to court him in late April of 2006.

Johnson originally signed a letter of intent to play at Louisiana-Monroe after a solid high school career ended in the spring of 2005. After a coaching change at ULM, Johnson opted to try the prep school route to further enhance his playing ability. He briefly enrolled at the Patterson School in North Carolina before transferring to Eldon Academy in Michigan for a better opportunity. As the 2005-06 season was about to begin, Eldon Academy shut its doors, leaving Johnson nowhere to showcase his skills. He moved back to Texas wondering whether he would ever make it to the next level.

Luckily for Iowa State, Johnson formed a bond with ISU assistant coach Jean Prioleau. Prioleau was an assistant at Wichita State in 2004-05 and then moved on to Marquette in 2005-06. Prioleau was well aware of Johnson's ability, and the two kept in touch throughout last season. When Iowa State hired Greg McDermott in March of 2006, the Cyclones were in dire need of some players after a slew of defections depleted ISU's roster. McDermott quickly assembled a top-notch staff, which included Prioleau, and rounded up the best available players in order to field a team for the rigors of the Big 12 Conference. Johnson received the call from Prioleau. Johnson made a visit to Ames and immediately fell in love with the campus.

Johnson has been ISU's most consistent player so far, starting every game for the Cyclones this season. He has used his amazing athletic ability to overcome a lack of strength and now can compete with the best players in the Big 12. At 6-7, 195 pounds, he is not a prototypical big man. However, Johnson possesses outstanding jumping ability - he broke the ISU record for step vertical jump at 41 inches. His long arms also provide him an unique knack for getting around block outs to grab rebounds, especially on the offensive end.

“He has been unbelievably consistent for a freshman, especially on the backboards,” McDermott said. “For someone that has a slight build to do what he has done from a rebounding standpoint game in and game out is really amazing. We've needed him to score points, and he has done that. We've played him somewhat out of position because of our shortage in the front line, and he has responded to that.”

Johnson's expertise for getting offensive rebounds has allowed ISU to stay in ballgames. No offensive rebound was bigger than the last carom in ISU's Big 12 opener at Missouri. With ISU rallying from a 16-point second-half deficit and Johnson tallying 12 of his 14 points after intermission, Johnson grabbed a Mike Taylor miss with :01.6 left on the clock and layed it in to give ISU the dramatic 66-65 victory.

“When I saw Mike let it go, I just went toward the rim hoping to be in position,” Johnson said. “I was just trying to jump and get my hand on it. It came right to me, so I just reacted and put it in. I am used to crashing the boards.”

Johnson, who currently sports a 12.3 ppg. average, has recorded 10 or more rebounds in six of the last eight games, averaging 10.6 boards in that span. He currently leads the Big 12 in offensive rebounding, grabbing 3.87 offensive caroms per game and ranks 38^th nationally in overall rebounding.

“Rebounding is all about timing,” Johnson added. “Sometimes the defense sees me standing and they think I am not doing anything, but once the shot goes up, it is an all-out sprint to try and grab a rebound. Sometimes being a little smaller gives me an advantage. Most of the guys blocking me out are much bigger than me. That is when I use my speed and quick-jumping ability to get around them.”

“Everything we have asked Wesley to do, he has been able to do for us,” McDermott commented. “He is a coach's dream. He is the first one to practice and last one to leave. He is an extremely coachable young man and has a great work ethic and he is just going to get better and better. I could not be more pleased with what he has accomplished. When you recruit someone in April like that, you never know what to expect. In Wesley's case, it has been everything we could have hoped for.”

Players Mentioned

Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Mike Taylor

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