Published: January 30, 2009
Just a high school sophomore, Sidiki Johnson is already a highly sought after player on the recruiting radar.
Johnson is getting considerable looks from Providence, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh, amongst many other potential major suitors.
The St. Raymond’s forward is 6-foot-8 with a knack for tearing down rebounds and polishing up the glass as if he’s Mr. Clean’s understudy.
He still needs to gain weight and pack some muscle onto his toothpick 200-pound frame. He still needs to develop some refined, back to the basket moves. But that will come with time.
Johnson is a walking double-double who will surely evolve into the face of the rich, traditional basketball breeding ground in the Bronx. Household NCAA names such as Allan Ray (Villanova), Julius Hodge (N.C. State, NBA), and Gavin Grant (N.C. State) have emerged from St. Raymond’s. Johnson appears to be the new big kid on the block, both figuratively and literally.
Johnson averaged 14 boards during the prestigious SNY invitational last weekend, where the Ravens finished as the runner-up to Mount Vernon.
Prior to a 70-54 loss to the Knights in the championship, the Ravens pulled off a shocking upset of Boys & Girls HS.
Johnson was a major part of this signature victory as he swallowed a whopping 14 rebounds and was a major interior presence, scoring on putbacks and contesting every shot inside the key.
“It was evenly-matched, but I had them by like 2-3 inches so it really didn’t matter,” said Johnson following his Godzilla-slaying showing. “It was on tonight. The first half, we had like 13 turnovers. They were playing tougher than us, so I said ‘let’s get tougher.’ We just came off a tough loss in Missouri, so this win was real big.”
Johnson continued, “I average a double-double, so every game I just try to go out there and do what I do best. Rebounding is one of my strengths, so I just try to crash the boards.”
During the Missouri trip, Johnson was beastly. He erupted for 25 points and 12 rebounds one game, 18 and 20 during another.
As far as the recruiting process, Johnson refuses to let the big name schools and hyperbolic lure get to him.
“I just let my coach and my father handle that,” said Johnson. “I don’t really look into all that, yet.”
Thus, Johnson is keeping his eyes on the prize. As one of the top big men in the city, he acknowledges there’s a bullseye on his back. Teams will look to clamp down on him and keep him off the boards.
Pressure?
“No pressure applied at all times,” said Johnson. “I’m used to playing on a big stage now. We’re used to it now. We know we just have to play together and play hard.”
