The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1043000
60 ■ THE WOLFPACKER T e n Q u e s t i o n s W i t h M a r k e l l J o h n s o n Who would you like to see in concert that you haven't seen yet? Lil Baby. Who is your favorite NBA player? LeBron James. Who is your favorite NBA team? Cleveland Cavaliers. Who is your favorite athlete at NC State that is not a basketball player? Kelvin Harmon is tough, but I don't watch a lot of football. What is the toughest road venue you have played in? UNC. When you were playing traveling team basketball in high school, what was your favorite city to visit? Atlanta. If you could try a different college sport what would it be? Baseball. What's a long-term promise you have made to your family? That I'm going to make it to the NBA. Would you wear your NC State jersey in a social setting? I al - ready did that. I wore it to the white-out football game because I wanted to. What is your go-to restaurant for a date? I don't really go on dates, but in Cleveland, it would be Ruth's Chris. I'm a Popeyes guy, but you can't take a date to Popeyes. BASKETBALL PREVIEW 2017-8 PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN Analysis: Last season, Johnson flourished as a distributor and defender, and showcased an improved and more confident shot. He improved his three-point shooting percentage by more than 15 percent, although he will look to become more reliable at the free throw line. Johnson may take on a larger role as a scorer this winter, but his ability to set up teammates and provide pressure on defense will continue to be his calling card. Career Highlights: Was honorable mention All-ACC last season after lead- ing the ACC in assists per game (7.3, which was the highest for a NC State player since Chris Corchiani averaged 9.6 in 1990-91) … Set a school record with five straight games of double-digit assists and also had four double- doubles … Was fifth in the ACC with 1.7 steals per game … Had a career-high 20 points to go with 11 assists in the overtime win at UNC … Played in 30 games as a freshman and made three starts … Finished second on the team in assists (68) and steals (26) … Scored a season-best 12 points against Notre Dame and had a second double-digit contest with 11 points against Virginia … Was a consensus four- star recruit coming out of East Tech High in Cleveland … Averaged 31.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game as a senior… Was named the Cleveland.com Boys Basketball Player of the Year and the Ohio Player of the Year in Division 1 … Led East Tech to its first appearance in the state semifinals since 1972 during his freshman season by scoring 27 points and hitting the game-winner at the buzzer in overtime. Personal: Son of Sabrina Johnson … Has a sister and a brother … Birth - day is Aug. 25. MARKELL JOHNSON 11 Jr. • Cleveland • 6-1 • 175 G STATISTICS Year G-GS MPG PPG RPG BPG FG% 3FG% FT% 2016-17 30-3 20.4 4.0 1.6 2.3 37.7 25.0 57.7 2017-18 26-24 29.1 8.9 3.4 7.3 46.0 40.9 60.9