Memphis Roar

2011 PG Kedren Johnson of Lewisburg, TN

If you are wanting to hear a name that didn’t have a lot of buzz around it this summer, look no further than Kedren Johnson. Unfortunately for Johnson, the lack of buzz was out of his control. Coming off of an impressive performance at the Real Deal in the Rock in April, Johnson appeared to be set for a big summer. Sitting out the last portion of the weekend at the tournament in Little Rock, AR with what was thought to be a sprained ankle, Johnson realized shortly afterward that his summer was over.

“I hated every minute of it,” Johnson said as he munched on a Nutri-grain bar. ”It ended up being a stress fracture on the top of my right foot in the second metatarsal. I am back 100% and ready to go though.”

Coming from a team with familiar names and faces in the Nashville Celtics, 2011 6′4″ guard Kedren Johnson from Lewisburg, TN is known as a big-bodied, playmaking point guard who, according to Nashville Celtics’ coach Jonathan Henderson, may remind some of a big Levance Fields type of kid. 

Having a chance to see Kedren Johnson first-hand back in April at the Real Deal in the Rock, here is what Memphis Roar scout Brad Peters had to say about Johnson:

Playing with the Nashville Celtics, 2011 guard Kedren Johnson popped up on our radar mainly due to his big body for a guard. Johnson is extremely strong and showed a knack for finishing around the rim. Johnson is one of the guards that new Memphis head coach Josh Pastner scouted during the state playoffs as an assistant.

Possessing adept handles and high-level passing ability, currently has offers from Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Memphis while also getting a lot of recent attention from Alabama and Florida.

“I have heard from a lot of SEC schools but they are mainly the ones calling the most. Memphis, Vandy, Tennessee, those are my three offers,” Johnson said. ”Louisville is coming in next week. Harvard came in yesterday to watch me. I think Florida is about to come up here sometime soon, maybe next week.”

Johnson, who’s father played baseball at Tennessee and who’s cousin is former Tennessee basketball player Marcus Hayslip, maintains that his family connections will not be a factor in his decision on where he will attend college.

“My dad went to Tennessee to play baseball,” replied Johnson. ”None of that’s going to have anything to do with my decision, though.”

A really light-hearted young man who classifies himself as a “momma’s boy”, Johnson seems to already have a good idea of what he is looking for in a school.

“As far as my game, I would like to run and play in an offense where I can get out on the break,” Johnson explained. ”I really want to be able rebound the ball, run and get it to my teammates. In terms of what I already like, Tennessee’s campus is off the charts. Vanderbilt is one of those places where, once you graduate, you can pretty much do anything you want to. With Memphis, they are putting out high profile athletes like nothing, so that’s a big thing. All three of those have their own things that make them attractive.”

Kedren Johnson - Photo taken by Tennessee Prep Hoops

Johnson started getting back on the court about two months ago and says he is working hard his game with hopes of having a big junior season at Marshall County High School under head coach Jason Tigert.

“Well, we started conditioning like a week ago, and I have been personally trying to work on my jump-shot, and I think it is looking a whole lot better. It’s definitely more of a threat now, Johnson said. ”Coach Tigert has just done it all. I have spent more time in the gym with him than I have probably spent in the class. My dad and him will just get in the gym with me and go to work.”

After leading Marshall County to a berth in the sub-state round of the state playoffs while averaging 18 points per game as a sophomore, Johnson has high hopes for their upcoming season.

“So far, we are looking really good, real fast,” said Johnson. ”We have another point guard, Kevin Peterson, who is a freshman and is my best friend, who I think is going to be one of the best young players in the state. We’ll play a really exciting style where people will want to come out to pay to watch us play. Look out for me this year. We are going to be on a mission, trying to get to state. Watch out.”

Johnson says that a decision will not come this year. Whether it’s wanting to see who else will begin recruiting him or just taking his time to enjoy the process, Johnson said he was positive that his senior season will be when the decision is made.

“I talked to my dad about it and we haven’t really decided it all, but it will definitely be DURING my senior season,” answered Johnson.

EXTRAS

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: “I ain’t going to lie, my favorite food is probably Chinese. That would be my favorite food of all time. I love sesame seed chicken. Man, I could probably eat it for breakfast.”

Q: Do you have any pet-peeves or something about you that most people don’t know?

A: “I really don’t know how to explain it, but you when you can see someone out of the corner of your eye staring at you, it really bugs me. I don’t really know what it is, but it bugs me. I don’t know if it’s that they recognize me or what, but it’s like, ‘Take a picture!’. ”

Q: Do you ever go onto message boards or sites to see what people are saying about you?

A: “I mean I do, but not too often. I used to do it way more often, but I don’t as much.”

Q: Have you ever Googled your own name?

A: “[laughing] I have done it like three or four times.”

Q: You sure that’s all?

A: “[laughing harder now] Yeah! I promise. Like three or four times.”

Q: What do you think of how technology has allowed for coaches and fans to be able to follow a player’s recruitment minute by minute?

A: “Man, I think technology is good for the coaches. It makes it easier so that they can get more information and not have to travel so far to look at a new prospect. But with fans, I think they shouldn’t really have anything to do with a recruitment until you are actually playing for them. The fans should be like, ‘If he comes, great, but if he doesn’t then I wish the best for him.’ It should never be a thing where they don’t like you just because you didn’t go to their school.”