More Than a Signature : North Hollywood’s Fantasia Johnson Brings a Little Magic to the Court

A shy child, no more than 7, cautiously made his way through a throng of giants at the Indianapolis Hoosier Dome.

On reaching his destination, the boy extended his tiny arms skyward and nervously offered a pen and pad to a young man whom he had seen excel on the basketball courts at the Nike All-American Camp. Unsure what was expected of him, Fantasia Johnson looked down on the youngster curiously.

“What do you want, little man?” the North Hollywood High standout asked in a warm tone.

“Can I please have your autograph?” the boy responded.

“Mine?” a surprised Johnson replied.

“Yeah,” the boy confirmed.

Johnson signed and talked about basketball briefly. Sensing his new friend was still uneasy, Johnson rubbed the boy’s head and flashed his disarming smile. The latter response sent the young fan away sporting a grin of his own.

“It was very surprising,” Johnson said. “That was the first time in my life someone asked for my autograph. Never in my life did I expect that.”

Word is, Johnson better get used to the attention.

A flashy guard with an all-star combination of talent and personality, Johnson enters his senior year regarded as one of the top college prospects in the state. Johnson currently is toying with would-be defenders for San Fernando B-Ball, a summer developmental team. San Fernando B-Ball is playing in the Slam-N-Jam tournament that ends Thursday at Cal State Long Beach.

Past performances indicate Johnson will cause many a headache for opposing coaches, players and fans during the six-day tournament. Truth is, the referees probably won’t relish trying to keep pace with Johnson either.

“Fantasia has gears that no one else has,” North Hollywood Coach Steve Miller said. “He can switch from fast to ludicrous.”

Said Miles Gonzales, coach of San Fernando B-Ball: “Most people just aren’t used to seeing that much speed with the ball. Coaches at the Nike Camp told me everyone knows who he is now.”

Not that the 6-foot point guard was unknown before the camp. He entered summer play rated among the top five at his position in the state by David Pump, editor and publisher of the California Cage Report.

“He’s extremely quick and a superb athlete, and you just can’t teach that,” said Pump, who is based in Northridge. “He’s not a great shooter but he scores and plays defense.”

Johnson was selected All-City Section 4-A Division and All-Valley by The Times after helping North Hollywood win the East Valley League title last season. Johnson finished second on the Huskies in both scoring and assists, with averages of 16.1 and 4.7, respectively.

Also a tenacious defender, Johnson usually draws the competition’s best guard. He led the team in steals with an average of 3.0.

The Indiana-based camp, however, was Johnson’s first exposure to the national network of high school basketball fanatics. It was a coming-out party in the heart of a hoops-crazy state. Basketball fans--as if anyone in that state is not a basketball fan--attended the camp’s games in droves.

“There were so many people,” Johnson said. “It was incredible.”

It also was the perfect stage for Johnson, whose given name is Jamaal. Johnson’s grandmother always loved the magic he made with the basketball, so he adopted “Fantasia” as a nickname in honor of his grandmother when she died before the beginning of his sophomore year at North Hollywood. His exploits more than justify the moniker.

Johnson was among the stars of the camp, which is the most prestigious of its kind. For a week in early July in Indianapolis, he dribbled, jumped, passed and shot with the best high school basketball players. By invitation only, the camp was composed of 131 of the nation’s elite players as determined by scouting services.

For eight hours a day beginning at 9 a.m. in the Hoosier Dome, fans were treated to skilled, up-tempo basketball played by many future college stars. After some early jitters, Johnson quickly became a crowd favorite with his effervescent personality and game to match.

“I wanted to prove to the scouts that coming out to watch me was worth it, so I put a little pressure on myself to produce right away,” Johnson, 17, said. “But as the week went on, I relaxed and started doing my thing--distributing the ball, penetrating, taking it to the (basket).

“By the end everyone was talking about how quick I get up the court. I hear a lot of college coaches who weren’t interested in me before are now.”

Johnson’s ascent on the coaches’ most-wanted lists was boosted by his strong showing against Virginia high school standout Allen Iverson. Also a multi-talented, do-all guard, Iverson is considered the top prospect in the nation next season by several publications.

“Iverson is real good,” Johnson said. “His jumper is more consistent that mine, but otherwise I rank myself right there with him.”

In addition to on-court activity, camp participants attended an ACT preparatory class and visited a children’s hospital in Indianapolis, among other activities.

“They kept us busy all the time,” Johnson said.

Of all the sights and experiences Johnson enjoyed at the camp, the camaraderie among the players was the highlight, he said.

“Meeting a lot of guys from all over was the great thing,” he said. “Nobody was talking any trash, we all hung out and had a good time. They

were all cool fellas.”

Said Johnson’s father Hobson: “He hasn’t stopped talking about the camp since he got back. He was so busy playing and meeting people that he didn’t even have time for the girls.”

Meeting people is as easy for Johnson as a no-look pass.

Two years ago, a reporter was interviewing several North Hollywood players after practice for an athlete profile story. She gathered her information and was preparing to leave the school gym when, quite to her surprise, a sophomore guard specifically sought her out to introduce himself.

He was a reserve, a player she had no intention of interviewing, but she wound up chatting anyway with the personable 15-year-old for quite a while.

Seems that not much intimidates Johnson.

“Fantasia is one of those kids you love to have,” Miller said. “He loves the challenge and he wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line.”

Johnson is projected to play point guard in college. He hopes to control the reins of the Oklahoma Sooners’ offense. To do that, however, he has some important business to take care of in the classroom.

He has completed a preparatory class for the Scholastic Aptitude Test, which he will take Oct. 9. He also owns a 2.5 grade-point average, but knows he can do better.

Just as on the basketball court, Johnson expects success.

“All I have to do is finish up strong in the classroom,” he said. “I feel I can.”