It’s a Long Story, and Just Getting Started

A happy ending, the dramatic comeback, yet another cliffhanger.... The story of Amir Johnson’s high school basketball career has had it all.

Johnson, a square-shouldered 6-foot-10 center for Westchester, stood in the paint one evening last month in Sacramento’s Arco Arena, where earlier he had tormented San Mateo Serra during a 66-45 victory that clinched the Comets’ third Division I state title in the last four years.

In bits and pieces, Johnson, The Times’ boys’ basketball player of the year, explained his on-again, off-again playing history to a handful of reporters, some of whom had just witnessed his explosiveness and creativity around the basket for the first time.

He then smiled and politely said, “It’s a long story, man.”

Indeed, but at least it ended the way he had envisioned.

Ineligible during his freshman and junior seasons and enrolled in three different high schools during his first three years, Johnson finally reached the state championship game.

After producing 15 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots in the victory, he celebrated with teammates, accepted an award, signed autographs and hugged about a dozen family members and friends.

Then he took a deep breath.

“It’s a relief, man,” he said.

Few things went exactly as planned during Johnson’s high school career, including his senior season.

After signing with Louisville last fall, he suffered a broken foot a week before the first game that sidelined him for most of December. His absence was especially felt in the championship game of the season-opening Westchester tournament, which the Comets lost, 53-52, to Compton Dominguez, suffering their lone loss to a Southland opponent in a season they would finish with a 25-3 record.

He was rounding into form by mid-January and, in Westchester’s first game against Western League rival L.A. Fairfax, had 26 points, including four dunks, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots in a 68-60 victory.

The Comets would go on to beat the Lions three more times: in their second league meeting at Fairfax, in the City Section final at the Forum and in the Southern California Regional final at the Sports Arena.

“We probably would have won state last year,” Johnson said. “But I think we proved something.”

The Comets were not eligible for the postseason a year ago because of alleged recruiting violations involving Johnson, who had transferred from L.A. Verbum Dei.

The allegations also caused Johnson to be ineligible for all but the first four games.

Johnson said poor grades kept him ineligible during his freshman year at L.A. Pacific Hills.

Johnson leaves plenty to the imagination as he ponders his future, which will likely include a move to power forward.

He said after winning the state title that he looked forward to playing at the college level, but his name continues to appear in scouting reports for the NBA draft in June.

Last week, Louisville Coach Rick Pitino told Associated Press that he didn’t expect Johnson to arrive on campus.

“We’d love to have him,” Pitino said.

Stay tuned ...