Las Vegan fits in fast as Kansas starter
December 11, 2009 - 10:00 pm
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Kansas freshman Elijah Johnson might not start another game this season. He might start all of them. Whether he becomes a regular starter for the No. 1 Jayhawks will depend more on the play of sophomore guard Tyshawn Taylor than his own.
Regardless, Johnson felt he accomplished something pretty significant Wednesday by making his first collegiate start in a 99-64 victory over Radford.
"Because I feel like we have the best talent in the country," he said. "For somebody to be able to start on this team, even if it's just one game or for the whole season, you earn some kind of respect."
Johnson, a 6-foot-3-inch guard from Cheyenne High School, has undeniable talent. He has been called the best athlete on the team, he plays fast with or without the ball, and he appears unselfish by nature. In 15 minutes against Radford -- he picked up two fouls in the first four minutes -- he had 11 points, three rebounds and an assist and hit two 3-pointers during a crucial first-half run for the Jayhawks (8-0).
Taylor, who has struggled this season, came off the bench and played one of his best games -- six points, six assists and five rebounds with no turnovers. Clearly, he will have to show he can play with that kind of floor presence consistently if he wants to start again.
"I predict that Ty will get the job back, but right now, there is no reason not to play Elijah," Kansas coach Bill Self said.
When Self approached Johnson at Tuesday's practice to tell him he would be starting, Johnson gave Self what he described as a weird look.
Like, really Coach?
"I basically ignored him, honestly," Johnson said. "He asked me a question afterward, and I just ignored him."
Johnson didn't want to give the wrong impression.
"It wasn't intentionally," he said. "It was just ... you know how some things happen, weird moments, and you just don't know what to say so you just don't say anything? It was one of those kind of moments."
After practice, Johnson called his father, Marcus. But overall, he said he didn't want to make too big of a deal out of it. On Wednesday, as the game approached, he went over the team's playbook in his dorm room.
When Johnson's name was called over the loudspeaker during the starting lineup announcements, it finally sunk in.
"Overwhelming," he said. "It really dawned on me: I'm starting at Allen Fieldhouse for the first time. That overwhelming feeling was just breathtaking."
Johnson seems to understand what is needed from him when he is on the floor surrounded by talents such as Cole Aldrich, Sherron Collins, Xavier Henry and Marcus Morris.
"To get Sherron and Cole going," Johnson said. "They're not touching (the ball) enough. Let them do what they do and show why we're the No. 1 team in the country."
Johnson said he felt more comfortable starting than coming off the bench.
"I've never not started for a team until I got here," he said, "but I had no problem with that. I knew there were people in front of me who knew more than me. It came quicker than I imagined."