George Johnson Jr. to the Bluegrass State, no, make that the Basketball State

Some may argue with this statement but the most worshipped element in the state of Kentucky is basketball. Roundball is the Holy Grail of the Bluegrass commonwealth and George Johnson Jr. is about to take his first communion.

Offered a full ride scholarship by the University of Pikeville (UPIKE), Johnson accepted and now has been anointed as the on-court leader of the Bears. It's a powerhouse program that won the National Championship in 2011. UPIKE finished 25-6 and ranked #8 nationally in the final NAIA division 1 poll in 2015-16 but in need of a point guard for next year's squad.

The 6-foot sophomore was a First Team All Bay Valley Conference honoree, averaging a team best 17.1 points this season for College of Marin as well as 4.2 assists while shooting 48%, 45% and 79%. Pikeville Coach Kelly Wells saw tape of Johnson and became convinced he could fill the missing element on the Bears. After some phone calls, it became a mutual admiration society, and Johnson signed on.

"Coach [Wells] reached out and he was honest from the start," Johnson explained. “They were looking for someone to continue the legacy at the point guard position and have an immediate impact.”

Other attractions for Johnson included having family in nearby Louisville and UPIKE being a winning program with impressive facilities. They have a major college basketball arena, the East Kentucky Exposition Center that seats 7000 fans, plus Pikeville usually faces off with the likes of Kentucky and Louisville on an annual basis.

From the It's-Never-Too-Late Department, Wells actually initially reached out while Johnson was concluding a recruiting visit to Tuskegee University in Alabama.

So what will Bear basketball fans see from Johnson? "I'll definitely bring leadership qualities and playmaking. I'm a scoring and passing threat who can attack the rim or shoot from three-point range. I'm also a team person who comes from a successful background and I really try to be as positive as possible."

Gritty resolve was also on display from Johnson this season as the Mariners endured a reduced squad as well as experiencing a coaching change two weeks prior to the start of the season. Sanctions resulting from the prior season's 26-4 squad took away nine actual victories leaving this year’s team with a 2-23 record. "It was tough but we moved on as a team," Johnson explained. “Noah Everly, Keiland Callum and Bobby Reeves were also sophomore guys that had to deal with the unfortunate sanctions situation, including the last-minute coaching change. I just give it up to those guys who stood by my side and continued on with the season, I owe them a lot.”

He's looking to major in sociology at UPIKE.

Johnson praised those who have aided his basketball journey thus far. "I want to thank all my coaches throughout my career as well as my parents. My Dad has been vital and started coaching me when I was little.  Also thanks to my College of Marin coaches, Coach [Marshall] Collins who stepped in this season and Coach Dave [Granucci]."