Myles Johnson
{{short description|American basketball player (born 1999)}}
{{for|the English badminton player|Miles Johnson}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Myles Johnson
| image = Myles Johnson UCLA.jpg
| caption = Johnson with UCLA in 2021
| number =
| position = Center
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 10
| weight_lbs = 255
| league =
| team =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|3|18}}
| birth_place = Torrance, California, U.S.
| high_school = Long Beach Poly
(Long Beach, California)
| college =
| highlights =
}}
Myles Johnson (born March 18, 1999) is an American former basketball player. He played college basketball for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the UCLA Bruins. He was named to the all-defensive team in both the Big Ten Conference with Rutgers and the Pac-12 Conference with UCLA.
High school career
Born in Torrance, California, Johnson played basketball for Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California. He missed his entire junior season with a patella injury, which caused Pac-12 college programs to stop recruiting him.{{cite web |last1=Carino |first1=Jerry |title=Rutgers basketball: How Myles Johnson slipped through the Pac-12's fingers |url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2020/12/22/rutgers-ohio-state-basketball-myles-johnson/3995828001/ |website=Asbury Park Press |access-date=July 7, 2021 |date=December 22, 2020}} As a senior, Johnson was named to the Press-Telegram First Team Dream Team.{{cite web |last1=Guardabascio |first1=Mike |title=Zafir Williams named boys basketball Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year |url=https://www.presstelegram.com/2017/04/13/zafir-williams-named-boys-basketball-press-telegram-dream-team-player-of-the-year/ |website=Press-Telegram |access-date=July 7, 2021 |date=April 13, 2017}} He committed to playing college basketball for Rutgers over offers from Georgia Tech, Hawaii and Yale.{{cite web |title=Know Your Knights: Myles Johnson |url=https://scarletknights.com/news/2017/8/22/mens-basketball-know-your-knights-myles-johnson.aspx |website=Rutgers University Athletics |access-date=July 7, 2021 |date=August 22, 2017}} He was drawn to Rutgers' engineering program, and decided on the school before even meeting their basketball team.{{cite news|first=Andrew|last=Cangiano|title=Rutgers Athlete Seeks to Inspire Black Youth to Pursue Sciences|date=January 29, 2021|newspaper=New Brunswick Today|url=https://newbrunswicktoday.com/2021/01/29/rutgers-athlete-seeks-to-inspire-black-youth-to-pursue-sciences/|access-date=May 1, 2022}}
College career
File:Myles Johnson.jpg in 2020]]
Johnson opted to redshirt his first year at Rutgers University to become stronger and work on his game. As a freshman, he averaged 4.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game,{{cite web |last1=Breitman |first1=Aaron |title=Myles Johnson primed for breakout season for Rutgers basketball |url=https://www.onthebanks.com/2019/10/15/20915311/myles-johnson-primed-for-breakout-season-for-rutgers-basketball-steve-pikiell-big-ten-ncaa |website=On the Banks |access-date=July 8, 2021 |date=October 15, 2019}} which ranked third among Big Ten freshman.{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Whicker|title=For Long Beach's Myles Johnson, Rutgers' basketball revival is a bonus|date=February 3, 2020|newspaper=Orange County Register|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/03/whicker-for-long-beachs-myles-johnson-rutgers-basketball-revival-is-a-bonus/|access-date=May 3, 2022}} He posted 18 points and 14 rebounds, both career-highs in a 63–44 victory against Lafayette on December 22, 2019.{{cite news |title=Johnson guides Rutgers to 63–44 victory over Lafayette |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401166130 |access-date=July 8, 2021 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=December 22, 2019}} On January 3, 2020, he scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 79–62 win against Nebraska.{{cite news |title=McConnell subs for Baker, leads Rutgers past Huskers 79–62 |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401166147 |access-date=July 8, 2021 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |date=January 3, 2020}} In his sophomore season, Johnson entered the starting lineup and averaged 7.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He shot 60.2 percent from the field, which led the Big Ten.{{cite web |last1=Nalwasky |first1=Chris |title=An early look at the updated Rutgers men's basketball roster for 2020 |url=https://rutgers.rivals.com/news/an-early-look-at-the-updated-rutgers-men-s-basketball-roster-for-2020 |website=Rivals |access-date=July 8, 2021 |date=August 18, 2020}} As a junior, Johnson averaged eight points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game,{{cite web |last1=Buckley |first1=Clint |title=Rutgers' Myles Johnson entering NCAA Transfer Portal |url=https://247sports.com/Article/Rutgers-Basketball-Myles-Johnson-enters-NCAA-Transfer-Portal-163080699/ |website=247Sports |access-date=July 8, 2021 |date=March 25, 2021}} and the Scarlet Knights were selected for the 2021 NCAA tournament.{{cite news|first=Jerry|last=Carino|title=March Madness: UCLA's Myles Johnson a familiar face at East Regional|date=March 24, 2022|newspaper=Asbury Park Press|url=https://www.app.com/story/sports/college/rutgers/2022/03/24/march-madness-uclas-myles-johnson-familiar-face-east-regional/9456042002/|access-date=May 1, 2022}} He earned Big Ten All-Defensive Team honors.{{cite web |last1=Patuto |first1=Greg |title=Myles Johnson announces plan to enter the transfer portal |url=https://www.onthebanks.com/2021/3/25/22351278/myles-johnson-announces-plan-to-enter-the-transfer-portal-rutgers-mens-basketball |website=On the Banks |access-date=July 8, 2021 |date=March 25, 2021}} He completed his undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering in May 2021.{{cite news|first=Tarek|last=Fattal|title=UCLA's David Singleton announces return, but Myles Johnson bids fairwell [sic]|date=April 28, 2022|newspaper=Los Angeles Daily News|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2022/04/28/uclas-david-singleton-announces-return-but-myles-johnson-bids-fairwell/|access-date=May 1, 2022}}{{cite web|title=Myles Johnson|website=UCLABruins.com|url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/myles-johnson/10535|access-date=May 3, 2022}}
In 2021–22, Johnson transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles, choosing the Bruins' program over Stanford's.{{cite web |last1=Bolch |first1=Ben |title=UCLA gets commitments from Myles Johnson, Dylan Andrews |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2021-04-16/ucla-basketball-commitments-myles-johnson-dylan-andrews |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=July 8, 2021 |date=April 16, 2021}} He filled in for starting forward Cody Riley, who suffered a knee injury in the season opener, which kept him out for almost two months.{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Bolch|title=UCLA's Myles Johnson puts basketball dreams aside to start engineering career|date=April 28, 2022|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2022-04-28/no-longer-engineering-a-career-in-basketball-myles-johnson-will|access-date=May 1, 2022}} Johnson played in all 35 games, starting in 15, and averaged 3.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team.{{cite news|first=Ryan|last=Kartje|title=UCLA's Johnny Juzang, USC's Isaiah Mobley among All-Pac-12 picks for Bruins, Trojans|date=March 8, 2022|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-03-08/all-pac-12-ucla-usc|access-date=March 8, 2022}} After the season, Johnson announced that he would not return for another season and instead planned to focus on completing his master's degree and pursuing a career in engineering.{{cite news|title=UCLA's Singleton to stay, Johnson leaving Bruins|date=April 29, 2022|website=NBCSports.com|url=https://collegebasketball.nbcsports.com/2022/04/29/uclas-singleton-to-stay-johnson-leaving-bruins/|access-date=May 1, 2022}} He considered a pro basketball career overseas, but decided against living in a country where he did not speak the language.
{{Clear}}
Career statistics
{{NBA player statistics legend}}
=College=
{{NBA player statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18
| style="text-align:left;"| Rutgers
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="11"| File:Redshirt.svg Redshirt
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19
| style="text-align:left;"| Rutgers
| 31 || 0 || 17.6 || .555 || – || .405 || 5.7 || 1.1 || .7 || .7 || 4.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2019–20
| style="text-align:left;"| Rutgers
| 31 || 25 || 23.6 || .602 || .000 || .363 || 7.9 || 1.0 || .5 || 1.5 || 7.8
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2020–21
| style="text-align:left;"| Rutgers
| 28 || 22 || 24.7 || .628 || – || .435 || 8.5 || .8 || 1.1 || 2.4 || 8.0
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| 2021–22
| style="text-align:left;"| UCLA
| 35 || 15 || 18.1 || .630 || – || .533 || 5.4 || .7 || .6 || 1.3 || 3.6
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career
| 125 || 62 || 20.8 || .603 || .000 || .424 || 6.8 || .9 || .7 || 1.5 || 5.9
{{S-end}}
Personal life
Johnson is an electrical and computer engineering major in college.{{cite web |last1=Lorincz |first1=Kevin |title=Rutgers Men's Basketball Star Strives to Inspire Black Teens in STEM |url=https://www.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-mens-basketball-star-strives-inspire-black-teens-stem |publisher=Rutgers University |access-date=July 7, 2021 |date=October 8, 2020}} While attending Rutgers University, he founded BLKdev, a nonprofit organization that aims to support black students interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Johnson was a member of the Rutgers Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.{{cite web |last1=Fonseca |first1=Brian |title=More than just a basketball player: The many interests of Rutgers' Myles Johnson |url=https://www.nj.com/rutgers/2020/11/more-than-just-a-basketball-player-the-many-interests-of-rutgers-myles-johnson.html |website=NJ.com |access-date=July 7, 2021 |date=November 2, 2020}} In 2022, he was awarded a Tom Hansen medal by the Pac-12 for his performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.{{cite news|title=UCLA's Myles Johnson, Perez Named Pac-12 Tom Hansen Medal Recipients|date=June 23, 2022|work=Culver City Observer|url=https://www.culvercityobserver.com/story/2022/06/23/sports/uclas-myles-johnson-perez-named-pac-12-tom-hansen-medal-recipients/11467.html|access-date=June 28, 2022}} His father is an electrician and his aunt is an engineer.{{cite web |last1=Deren |first1=Bobby |title=Myles Johnson engineering a bright future on and off the court |url=https://247sports.com/college/rutgers/Article/Myles-Johnson-engineering-a-bright-future-on-and-off-the-court-125895570/ |website=247Sports |access-date=July 8, 2021 |date=December 4, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://uclabruins.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/myles-johnson/10535 UCLA Bruins bio]
- [https://scarletknights.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/myles-johnson/8796 Rutgers Scarlet Knights bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Myles}}
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Long Beach, California
Category:Rutgers Scarlet Knights men's basketball players
Category:UCLA Bruins men's basketball players