St. John's Durand Johnson
In our latest installment of “Getting to Know,” we chat with St. John’s graduate student Durand Johnson. The 6-6 guard had a career-best 19-point effort in the Johnnies victory over St. Francis (N.Y.) in the Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden this past Sunday. He fills us in on why the former Pittsburgh Panther feels at home in Queens, how it feels to be back on the court this season for the first time since January of 2014 (due to an ACL injury and a suspension), about his new role as leader of the painfully-young Red Storm and what it’s like to be playing for a Hall of Fame player-turned-coach in Chris Mullin.
BIGEAST.com: Why did you decide to choose St. John’s for your graduate year after leaving Pitt?
JOHNSON: “I felt like it was a great fit. I’ve known (St. John’s assistant) Coach Barry Rohrssen from our previous relationship at Pitt so I felt if I was at St. John’s I’d be in good hands and be in a situation with a good group of guys who cared for me. And there was a need for me to be there because I felt I could come in and get some things done.”
BIGEAST.com: You knew coming into St. John’s that there was going to be a lot of new players, young players, on this team as they rebuild the program. You decided to come anyway. Did you come in wanting to be a leader for this team?
JOHNSON: I actually did. I knew I’d be one of the older guys so coming in, so I already expected that role.
BIGEAST.com: Do you enjoy your new role? It’s different than the role you had while you were at Pittsburgh.
JOHNSON: “It is different but I’ve been playing basketball my whole life and I’ve played many different roles and I have been a leader before. So coming here, I knew it would be hard but sometimes there are things you just have to do.”
BIGEAST.com: How does it feel for you personally to be back on the court after such a long layoff?
JOHNSON: “It feels good to be out there with a group of guys that works hard and competes every day in practice. At least I’m getting the rust off now, so we’ll see. I’m just shaking it off but it’s definitely feels good and it’s a blessing to be out there and be able to play again.”
BIGEAST.com: After your loss at Fordham, did you talk to the young guys about not getting their heads down? What kind of advice or guidance do you have for the younger guys?
JOHNSON: “I do talk to them. We have a lot of young guys (roster makeup) and I really think they are handling things well. Obviously we didn’t play the way we wanted to in that game but I just express to the guys that it’s only one game and one game does not make us or define us. And that goes for me, too. I could have rebounded better, I could have passed better. I just try to show the guys that I’m not exempt from anything. I just tell them they have to keep working and keep on grinding.”
BIGEAST.com: Obviously the team is extremely young but you see them every day in practice and you see things outsiders don’t see. Do you like the talent level that is on the roster right now?
JOHNSON: “Definitely. We have a lot of guys who are really skilled and can do a lot of things. One player we’re missing right now is Malik Ellison (injured) and he’s a freshman as well and that kid can play the game. We’ll be a lot more back in rhythm when he gets back as well as having Kassoum (Yakwe) out there with us now.” (Yakwe, a 6-7 freshman, recently became eligible for St. John’s.)
BIGEAST.com: How can having Kassoum help the Johnnies?
JOHNSON: “He’s a great athlete, a great player and he’s only going to get better with time.”
BIGEAST.com: What has it been like playing for a Hall of Famer like Chris Mullin? Obviously that was part of the draw to come to St. John’s.
JOHNSON: “Just to play for a legend and a Hall of Famer, just to learn from a guy everyday who played my position, who knows every aspect of the game and how to get better, it’s a great feeling to have someone who cares and wants to help you get better.
BIGEAST.com: Durand, you’ve played in the BIG EAST Tournament and the ACC Tournament while you were with Pittsburgh and you’ve also played in the NCAA Tournament. Can this team grow enough this year so that they can make a bit of a run in the BIG EAST Tournament and surprise teams as they come together more as the season goes on?
JOHNSON: “Honestly I feel like we can. With nine or 10 new guys on the team we’re going to start to jell together pretty soon. We’re doing it in spurts right now. In some games we’re playing well offensively but I think we’re still trying to find each other. We’re transitioning. We’re trying to get to know each other better. It only takes repetition and with the coaching staff that we have we’re only going to get better. We’re having some bumps in the road right now but we’re learning that when conference play starts that it will be gut-check time and we’ll know what we have to do and what we’re in for.”