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Harding’s Shakem Johnson commits to Vincennes
By STEVE WILAJ
WARREN
Four years ago, after Shakem Johnson completed his first workout for Warren Harding, Raiders boys basketball head coach Andy Vlajkovich and assistant coach Mark Komlanc (now Warren JFK’s head coach) had a brief conversation.
“[Komlanc] came over and just said, ‘Oh boy,’” Vlajkovich said, making clear that Komlanc’s comment wasn’t meant in an encouraging way. “So we had a little bit of a project on our hands.”
That project turned into a college-commit, as the 6-foot-7 Johnson will continue his basketball career at Vincennes University — a junior college in southwest Indiana — next fall.
“I can’t imagine a kid growing more and getting so much better in a four-year stretch,” Vlajkovich said. “I wasn’t so sure he was ever going to play high school basketball. He was awkward and didn’t really understand the game. But he just slowly, as time went on, improved and added something to his game every couple months.
“The junior college route is going to be good for two reasons. No. 1, it gives him a chance to develop. And then No. 2, it also gives him a chance to improve athletically and academically.”
Vincennes is one of the top-notch junior colleges in the nation. Last season, the Blazers went 26-8.
The plan is for Johnson — who averaged 14.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game for Harding last season — to play two years at Vincennes, where he’ll be on full-scholarship, and then join a Division I program.
He wasn’t available for comment.
“Vincennes is an excellent junior college with an excellent tradition,” Vlajkovich said. “They’ve had close to 100 D-I players in the last 20 years and they have a couple guys in the NBA. It just has a great reputation among college coaches for producing high-level Division I players and, at the end of the day, that’s why we chose it.”
Johnson visited Vincennes on Sunday before committing. He chose the Blazers over a few other junior colleges.
He’ll take a winning attitude to his new school, as Harding — led by Johnson, Derek Culver and Gabe Simpson alike — advanced all the way to a Division I regional semifinal last season.
“Even though he’s a little unorthodox, he was very efficient as a high school player and really good at the highest level,” Vlajkovich said. “He played really good against good teams and played good in big games.
“The thing that is going to be really valuable for him at the next level, he can guard multiple positions. So not only does he have an offensive game, but I think what separates him is he’s a willing and able defender. And another valuable asset, besides his energy and motor, is that he’s a great teammate. Guys love playing with him. He was just really well-respected in the locker room.”
The Blazers are coached by Todd Franklin. They’ve made 30 NJCAA National Tournament appearances.
“If he goes and takes care of business on the floor and in the classroom, he’ll be wearing a Division I jersey in two years,” Vlajkovich said. “And I think he’ll be a really good Division I player that can help a program.”