University of North Carolina Athletics
Will Johnson Wants To Be Like Larry
February 16, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2000
By Laura McCoy
Athletic Media Relations Student Assistant
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The athlete Carolina freshman forward Will Johnson most admires is former Boston Celtic Larry Bird. Johnson remembers Bird as a fierce competitor on the court.
"Bird didn't have all the natural gifts compared to other NBA players, so he worked really hard," Johnson says. "You have to admire that in anybody.
And maybe this is the work ethic that drives Johnson to develop his game.
You wouldn't realize that Johnson is only a freshman by the way he has stepped up to give valuable minutes on the court at times this season. Johnson has filled in at the post positions to help out during times of injuries, which has earned him more playing time from head coach Bill Guthridge.
Now, Johnson is a member of Carolina's "Blue Team," a group of five reserves who enter games all at once to give the Tar Heel starters a rest.
Johnson's work ethic and athletic ability were developed from playing basketball for Hickory High School. There, he earned conference Most Valuable Player and all-state and all-regional honors in his senior year. He established seven school records, including most career points and rebounds, and led Hickory to two state championship game appearances.
To keep in shape for basketball, he also played soccer four months out of the year, earning all-state honors as a goalkeeper.
When deciding on a college, Johnson "wanted a school with good academics as well as a good basketball team." Appealing to universities both for his academic and athletic talents, he turned down a number well-known schools to attend Carolina.
Johnson is a freshman walk-on to the Carolina basketball team, due to earning the prestigious Morehead Scholarship, the highest academic grant awarded by UNC. When asked about this opportunity to play basketball he responds, "Everyone realizes it's a privilege to play here, regardless if you are on an academic or athletic scholarship."
He feels he is adjusting well to college life because of his demanding high school schedule.
"The biggest adjustment I've had to make is a combination of being on my own, sports and school," Johnson says. "But I've got things figured things out pretty well now that it's the spring semester."
Johnson has adjusted well to college life with the help of his brother, Daniel Johnson. Daniel graduated from Carolina in 1998 and went on to serve time in the Navy in order to pay off a ROTC scholarship. He was awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Medal - the highest peacetime honor given - for his bravery and heroism.
One of Daniel Johnson's men, Seaman Steve Wright, had gotten tangled in some ropes while the tugboat was pulling their boat out to sea. Wright was about to be dragged to death when Daniel went over and saved him, but Daniel lost both of his feet in the process. The accident occurred shortly before Will arrived at Carolina.
Will is very proud of his brother and feels that it is even more "heroic how he is dealing with the accident now, how he has continued his life." Daniel is able to walk without a cane now and has moved back to Chapel Hill to pursue a career as a doctor.
His brother's accident "puts everything in perspective," Will says. "I needed to make sure my priorities were straight. It was hard to concentrate on competition, on athletics, because I came so close to losing my brother. Everything else felt pretty insignificant, even Carolina basketball."
ut despite his hardships at the beginning of the year, the team gave him the support he needed. Johnson still wanted to be a part of the team and they accepted him for who he was, putting aside his brother's accident and the Morehead scholarship. They treated him no differently.
"I've been with the team since day one and so I feel like any other freshman basketball player just starting out," he says.
And Johnson does have a significant role on the team. He has been asked to give some of the starters a breather and has filled in for injured players.
"My job right now is to work hard to make the team better in practice," he says. "And in the games if I am needed to fill in for the starters I will be ready."
Right now Johnson is fulfilling a dream by playing basketball at Carolina.
"It's the best of both worlds, for both academics and athletics," he says. "Our basketball program has a lot of integrity. We have a great coaching staff and a talented team that I feel privileged to be a part of. This year is the start of a great experience for me."
He said with a smile, "I'm trying to take my experience for what it is and really enjoy my time here."
