Despite a new coach as well as vastly different offensive and defensive systems than he learned in high school, the 6-foot-2 Johnson performed well at Las Positas College (LPC) for Coach James Giacomazzi in the 2015-16 season. Try a very solid 12.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game plus 33 steals. He was part of a team that finished 19-10 overall, 8-4 in the Coast Conference North.
Johnson said the transition required big picture thinking alongside incorporating new action and reactions. "It was about working towards a larger future, more than just the now, besides learning things like spacing, coming off screens and moving without the ball."
Here's Giacomazzi on Johnson: "Kameron is a terrific young man and basketball player. He comes from a super supportive family and that's why I think he is so grounded. Kameron is a Livermore guy who helped take his community's college to new heights. But the even more exciting thing is that this is just the beginning and the best is yet to come."
The convenience of Las Positas College aided his choice--"I live right around the corner"--but opportunity combined with a sense of being wanted as well as joining forces with a coach sporting a proven track record (Giacomazzi came to LPC from Cosumnes River College) were important to Johnson.
But all was not champagne and roses from the get-go--the learning curve was steep.
"We played in some showcases before the season and I think we went 1-6 and started off the regular season 2-5," Johnson recalled. "We were stagnant at first in a new system and hadn't really got a chance to play with each other due to injuries."
Nine games into the season, the individual and collective development began paying dividends, producing 10 consecutive victories for the Hawks from December 3 to January 13 which included three straight successes on the road at the Diablo Valley College tournament followed by three more at Skyline College.
Further evidence of individual and team growth came in February when LPC narrowly lost 74-73 to eventual state champion City College of San Francisco.
At season's end, the Hawks qualified for the state tournament and immediately took out West Hills Coalinga 66-57 before falling to College of the Sequoias 87-81.
Johnson nominated his best moments as "winning the DVC and Skyline tournaments back-to-back." Those came at a sensitive time in which the Hawks could have easily tumbled into a downward spiral but instead the wins generated confidence.
Calling himself a demonstrative leader, he wants to expand that element by being more vocal on the court. Johnson also is working on improving his outside shooting and putting on weight.
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