University of Tennessee Athletics
@Vol_Hoops Q&A: Jalen Johnson
August 24, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Jalen Johnson’s mother was a hurdler on the UNC track and field team in the 1990s. But when it was time for the Durham, North Carolina, native to make his college selection, Johnson made the leap to Tennessee, becoming the first player from the Tar Heel State to sign with UT directly out of high school since Rashard Lee in 1995.
Johnson is joined in the 2016 signing class by fellow North Carolina natives Grant Williams and Kwe Parker (who was also a high school teammate), but Johnson was the first of the group to officially sign and re-establish a pipeline to the Volunteer State.
A 6-5 wing from Wesleyan Christian Academy, Johnson will wear No. 13 for Tennessee.
You get the unique opportunity to play alongside your high school teammate, Kwe Parker. Did you two plan to play together in college?
"It's a great experience because I know him. I'm going to a new place coming here, and it's also happening to somebody that I already built a relationship with. It makes me feel more comfortable transitioning into a new place. I know Tennessee was in the gym looking at me a couple times, and they looked at him, too. So, I made my decision and then I was trying to encourage him to come. It all worked out, thankfully."
You’re one of three Tennessee freshmen who hail from the state of North Carolina. Were you all familiar with each other?
"We get to represent North Carolina. We are all from North Carolina, and we all have played there with and against each other in school and during the summer. We were all in the same conference pretty much, so it's good to be with everyone."
What has it been like to build a relationship with Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes?
"It's a blessing. He's a proven coach who knows what he's talking about. You can see that with some of the guys he’s had under his wing, like Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge, and other great players. So, you know he knows what he’s talking about. His engine is always going. So, every time we are in the gym, he’s always jump starting your workouts, and trying to get you to work on certain things while you are working out."
What was the deciding factor in you choosing to sign with Tennessee?
“Coach Barnes and just the environment here. The fan base is crazy; the fans are passionate. Also, coach Barnes was different than other coaches who were recruiting me at the time. A lot of coaches were telling me the same things, and having the same phone calls, and I didn't really like that. When I came here, I asked some of the questions I asked the other coaches, (and coach Barnes didn’t just give me) the same answers. So, I felt like he was being honest with me. Therefore, I decided if he was going to be honest with me, I knew I could respect him."
What was it like the first time you saw your nameplate on your Tennessee locker?
"It was a great thing because I worked hard to put myself in this position so I can play basketball in college. So, seeing that up there was like a dream come true."
LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Stephen Curry?
"Lebron. I've always been a Lebron fan. Ever since he was in Cleveland the first time. Everyone was always bashing me, but that was my favorite player and I never left. So, wherever Lebron went, I was rooting for him. I was really happy he won in Cleveland this year."
Who is your mentor in basketball?
"My first AAU coach, Robert Sinclair, who pretty much introduced me to basketball. He saw me when I was young and raw. He just worked with me, and believed in me when I was little. He's always been there for me."
