Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/909619
cavalier sports 10 CAVALIER CORNER W hen London Perrantes graduated and Marial Shayok and Darius Thompson decided to transfer, the Cavaliers were left with major holes in the backcourt. Enter 6-1, 182-pound guard Nigel Johnson, the first graduate transfer during coach Tony Bennett's tenure as UVA head coach. Since Johnson had graduated from Rutgers, he was el- igible to play as soon as he set foot on campus. Among other things, Johnson is expected to replace some of the quickness that was lost when Perrantes, Shayok and Thompson departed. During his senior year at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Md., Johnson led the Cru- saders to a 26-10 overall record and the inau- gural Capital Beltway League championship. As a junior at Broad Run High in Loudoun County, he led the state of Virginia in scoring with a scoring average of 29.5 points per game. The son of former Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins defensive back Sidney Johnson, Nigel played two seasons at Kansas State where, as a sophomore, he finished third on the team in three-point shooting. Johnson then moved onto Rutgers, where he averaged 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. He scored a career-high 23 points against Purdue. During Virginia's 7-0 start this season, John- son was averaging 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 19.7 minutes per game. My advice to student-athletes is: Take advantage of the four years you get in college. Make sure that you do everything you can to make sure you live it to the fullest. The primary challenge facing student- athletes today is: How to balance your work- load in class and the time you have to spend on your craft. You have to find a way to get multiple things done at once. The best thing about UVA is: It has a very family like atmosphere. Why I chose UVA: I chose UVA because it would be a great opportunity to get a master's degree from a great university. It's a team that's known to go far in the NCAA Tourna- ment, and that's pretty important to me. What I like the most about basketball: Being able to share the feeling and experience of winning with my teammates and coaches and the school. The highlight of my athletic career: Beating Kansas at home during my sophomore year (at Kansas State). The most important thing I've learned from basketball is: Teamwork. My dream vacation would be: I want to go to the Bahamas. My post-college ambition is: Playing professional basketball. — Mike Scandura What Is Your Favorite … … TV show? "Power" … Movie? "Coach Carter" … Actor and actress? Denzel Washington and Meagan Good … Place in Charlottesville? B.J.'s … Musician/band? Lightshow … Pro sports team? Los Angeles Lakers … Food? My mom's macaroni and cheese … UVA class? Econ and finance … Sport (other than basketball)? Football … Person in history? Jesus … Pre-game ritual? Praying A graduate transfer from Rutgers, Johnson averaged 7.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game during the Cavaliers' 7‑0 start this season. PHOTO BY MATT RILEY/COURTESY UVA getting to know Men's Basketball Graduate Transfer Nigel Johnson