Johnson Has Game to Go With His Name at UCLA

The story goes that at least one Pacific 10 Conference basketball recruiter was celebrating after UCLA gave a scholarship to Josiah Johnson of Montclair Prep last April.

The recruiter felt the Bruins wasted a scholarship on an unproven player from a small Van Nuys high school.

Johnson heard the whispers and read comments from critics on Internet chat rooms.

“People are knocking my game, saying I’m a ‘legacy player,’ ” he said. “I get excited about stuff like that because they haven’t really seen me play. Hopefully, I’ll show them something to change their opinions.”

Game one of the Johnson “Show Me the Truth” Tour was to take place tonight at Pauley Pavilion when the Bruins begin their season with an exhibition game against Team Concept.

But last week X-rays revealed a stress fracture to Johnson’s left foot, putting him on the sideline for four to six weeks and delaying the start of his UCLA career.

It’s a debut Johnson has waited for all his life.

His father, Marques, was the college player of the year at UCLA. His brother, Kris, was a three-year starter.

A couple weeks ago, when the Bruins put on their uniforms for the first time before a scrimmage, Johnson felt a surge of energy, as if he were wearing a magical jersey.

“It was an amazing feeling,” he said. “It was the best I felt in my life. It was weird.”

The 6-foot-7 Johnson, who averaged 24.2 points and 12.5 rebounds a game his senior year at Montclair Prep, was more than holding his own during practice. Until his injury, he had given every indication he was capable of contributing off the bench as a freshman.

“As soon as we put in our half-court sets, Josiah shined because he understands how to play the game,” Coach Steve Lavin said. “He understands how to get open. He understands how to set himself up coming off a screen.

“He has an arsenal of offensive weapons for somebody his size that’s pretty unusual, making him a difficult matchup because he can step away and knock down threes but also can play with his back to the basket and take smaller men in the paint.”

When the summer began, Johnson weighed nearly 260 pounds and was projected to redshirt. But he lost 30 pounds and gained quickness.

“Working out with my brother, working out with my dad, playing every day against pros, it’s gotten my confidence up a lot higher,” he said.

Johnson isn’t just playing for himself and teammates--he’ll be representing all the players from small high schools who dream of getting the opportunity he received to play for a top college program.

Recruiters are rarely convinced a small-school player can compete at the college level unless he has done well against top club competition outside of high school. But it’s not unprecedented, as former Bruin Mitchell Butler proved when he came out of tiny Oakwood in North Hollywood and ended up in the NBA.

Brother Kris prepared Johnson for the physical college game during a busy, productive summer schedule.

“Kris has the NBA mind-set, how to play defense, how to get through screens, how to guard perimeter players, how to guard the post,” Johnson said.

With UCLA lacking in size off the bench, Johnson will be needed to fill in at critical moments, whether as a rebounder, defender or scorer. His injury might cause some to think he’ll redshirt, but that isn’t likely if he recovers quickly.

The college players will be bigger, stronger and faster than what he experienced at Montclair Prep. But Johnson’s talent is real and his potential for improvement is immense.

“Whatever skeptics or critics Josiah has will be proven wrong over his career at UCLA,” Lavin said. “His upside is very bright and I think at the front end of his career he’ll make an impact as well.”

Johnson has already accomplished something few others ever get to experience by playing for UCLA.

“I’m definitely going to be nervous but be so excited to be out here in uniform,” he said. “It will be like a dream come true when I step onto the floor.”

Johnson will get to wear No. 54, his father’s retired jersey. Kris wore it too. He’ll be on crutches tonight, but in a couple weeks, Johnson should be back and ready to show he belongs in a Bruin uniform.

*

In a matter of days, look for several football coaching resignations and dismissals. Then the real fun begins as schools scramble to hire Troy Thomas, who will be the most sought-after hire.

Thomas, 31, the former defensive coordinator at Crespi and Westlake, is serving as a graduate assistant at Fresno State. But he said Monday, “I’m definitely coming back to the Valley.”

The question isn’t whether schools will pursue Thomas but how many? He’s expected to be the top candidate to replace Ron Gueringer at Crespi if the Celts (0-8) make a coaching change.

But the decision by Troy Starr of Taft to resign at the end of this season adds to the intrigue. Taft may want to replace one Troy with another.

There aren’t many assistant coaches better than Thomas, whose defensive wizardry helped Westlake win its first Southern Section championship last year.

The school that wins his coaching services should feel fortunate. . . .

The game of the year in freshman football is set for Thursday night at 6 p.m. at Westlake, matching Newbury Park (8-0) and Westlake (8-0).

Newbury Park is led by quarterback Rudy Carpenter, who has passed for 1,035 yards and 15 touchdowns. Westlake linebacker Greg Newman is 6-2, 220 pounds and flattens people as if he were a varsity player among freshmen.

Too bad the winner of the Newbury Park-Westlake freshman game can’t set up a game with Notre Dame, which is 8-0 and has six shutouts. Linebacker K.C. Croal has five sacks and six interceptions. . . .

Billy Miller, former Westlake and USC receiver, had the week off from playing with the Denver Broncos and attended the USC-California game Saturday at the Coliseum. Miller has been impressed with Westlake’s improved play on defense.

“If they had played like that on defense when I was there, I would have had a couple of championships,” he said. . . .

Will the person who keeps playing the song, “Who Let the Dogs Out?” at Birmingham football games please cease. I can’t sleep at night without hearing it over and over . . . “Who Let the Dogs Out? Who Let the Dogs Out? Who Let the Dogs Out?”

“They’re calling each other dogs now,” Coach Ed Croson said of his players.

Eric Sondheimer’s column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422 or at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.