Alize Johnson

Alize DeShawn Johnson (born April 22, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Missouri State Bears of the Missouri Valley Conference.[1]

Alize Johnson
No. 24 – Indiana Pacers
PositionPower forward / Small forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1996-04-22) April 22, 1996
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High schoolSt. John Neuman Regional Academy
(Williamsport, Pennsylvania)
College
NBA draft2018 / Round: 2 / Pick: 50th overall
Selected by the Indiana Pacers
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–presentIndiana Pacers
2018–2020→Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Career highlights and awards
  • MVC Newcomer of the Year (2017)
  • 2× First-team All-MVC (2017, 2018)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Johnson was selected with the 50th pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA draft by the Pacers.

Early years

Johnson was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. As a freshman at St. John Neumann Regional Academy Johnson was a physically underwhelming 5-foot 9-inch point guard. By the time his high school days were over, however, Johnson had grown to 6 feet 4 inches while turning in a fairly decorated career along the way. Despite leading his team to a 30–1 record while averaging 24.1 points, 15.0 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, Johnson had no Division I offers after his senior year, with only a little bit of interest from St. Peters and St. Francis. Johnson played his AAU basketball for Team Pennsylvania, based out of Harrisburg. [2]

College career

Because of Johnson's lack of Division I offers he attended Frank Phillips College for his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred to Missouri State University to finish his athletic and academic career.

Junior year

On November 11, 2016, Johnson scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 91–65 win over Jacksonville State,[3] and on December 14, 2016, he scored 20 points and recorded 16 rebound in a ten-point win over Oral Roberts.[4] Later that month on December 30 Johnson scored a career-high 30 points on 50% shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds in an 81–75 overtime win over Indiana State.[5] Johnson finished 2016–17 with 17 double-doubles scoring 20 or more points in nine games and grabbing 10+ rebounds in twenty-two games including a stretch in January of ten straight 10+ rebounds. Also Johnson had 20 or more rebounds twice and one thirty-point game, including a 21-rebound effort in February. He was named to the MVC All-Tournament team.[6]

On April 21, 2017, Johnson declared for the 2017 NBA draft; however, Johnson did not hire an agent allowing him to return for his senior season. This move was most likely to receive feedback from NBA teams to see the interest. On May 15, 2017, Johnson was invited for a private workout with the Boston Celtics.[7][8] Prior to the draft Johnson withdrew his name from the draft and returned to MSU for his senior year.

Senior year

Prior to the 2017–18 Johnson was invited to the Adidas Nations basketball camp with the likes of Michael Porter Jr. and another top level NBA talent. Johnson was named Most Valuable Player in the camp over these players and thus improved his draft stock and multiple NBA teams took notice. Mock drafts had Johnson in the middle to the late first round and others beginning of the second round prior to the season.[9]

Professional career

Indiana Pacers (2018–present)

On June 21, 2018, Johnson was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the 50th pick in the 2018 NBA draft. On July 6, 2018 Johnson made his debut for the Pacers at the 2018 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas where against the Houston Rockets Johnson scored 15 points had 4 rebounds and 2 assists in 16 minutes of play.[10] In the Pacers 2018 summer league finale Johnson started scoring 12 points grabbing 14 rebounds and having 4 assists.[11] Johnson played in 4 games during the 2018 summer league averaging 12.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg and 1.6 apg in 23 minutes played.

On July 17, 2018, Johnson signed a two-year, guaranteed contract worth $2,255,316 with the Pacers.[12]

On October 19, 2018, Johnson made his NBA debut vs the Milwaukee Bucks and scored 2 points in four minutes of play in a 118–101 loss.[13] Johnson remained with the team playing in two more games before being moved down to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on October 27. Johnson remained on the Mad Ants being called up for three games in December. He remained with the Pacers throughout all of January playing in seven games with limited minutes played.[14][15] Johnson remained in the G League until its season ended. Johnson finished the season with averages of 18.8 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game, 3.3 assists per game and 1.4 blocks per game. In the Pacers season finale on April 10, 2019, Johnson saw significant playing time in 25 minutes he score 7 points and 11 rebounds in a 135–134 win over the Atlanta Hawks.[16]

In the 2019–20 NBA preseason, Johnson scored a team high 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a 130–106 rout over the Sacramento Kings.[17]

Off the court

Personal life

Johnson is the son of David Hill and Chanelle Johnson. Johnson has three brothers David, Davion, Nasza as well as four sisters Davesha, Destiny, Davida and Alana. He is the cousin of fellow professional basketball player Chevon Troutman who plays overseas. Johnson graduated with a communications degree from Missouri State University in 2018.[18]

Charitable work and activism

Johnson is very active in the charity and activism landscape. Johnson mainly focuses on his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania but has also been a player in the Indianapolis area as well, participating in multiple community events with the Pacers and Mad Ants.[19][20] In late 2018 Johnson launched the Alize Johnson Foundation, the foundations first major fundraiser giving out Thanksgiving meals to over 100 families in need in Williamsport.[21] In November of 2018 Johnson donated basketball shoes for three Lycoming County varsity high school basketball teams, over 40 players from Williamsport, Loyalsock and St. John Neumann high schools were given pairs. In early 2019 Johnson announced he was donated $145,000 to open a basketball court at park.[22] On June 2, 2019 Johnson and city officials opened the court.[23] In July of 2019 Johnson held his first annual basketball camp in Springfield at his alma mater.[24][25][26][27] On July 19, 2019 Johnson held his first basketball camp at his former high school. Forty five kids participated and were given signed Pacers gear all the profits were absorbed by Johnson's foundation.[28]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Indiana 1404.6.270.500.5001.4.1.1.21.9
Career 1404.6.270.500.5001.4.1.1.21.9

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2016–17 Missouri State 333330.2.488.388.66710.61.9.6.114.8
2017–18 Missouri State 333331.2.430.281.75911.62.8.5.415.0
Career 666630.7.457.325.71611.12.4.5.314.9
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See also

References
  1. "Alize Johnson Stats - Season & Career Statistics". www.FoxSports.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  2. "Alize Johnson - 2016-17 Missouri State Men's Basketball Roster - Missouri State University". MissouriStateBears.com. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  3. "Missouri State routs Jacksonville State 91-65". ESPN.com. November 11, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  4. "MSU beat Oral Roberts 86-76". espn.com. December 15, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  5. "Alize Johnson led Missouri State (11-4, 2-0 Missouri Valley Conference) with a career-best 30 points and 15 rebounds". ESPN.com. December 30, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  6. "MVC All Tournament team ..." twitter.com. March 5, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  7. "Source confirms Missouri State F Alize Johnson will workout [sic] for the Boston Celtics early next week". Jordan Burton via Twitter. May 10, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  8. "Thank you Boston". Alize Johnson via Twitter. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  9. "MSU's Alize Johnson outshines Mizzou's Michael Porter Jr. at Adidas camp". Springfield News Leader. August 8, 2017. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
  10. "Houston Rockets vs. Indiana Pacers - July 06, 2018 | NBA.com". NBA.com. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  11. "Atlanta Hawks vs. Indiana Pacers - July 11, 2018 | NBA.com". NBA.com. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  12. https://www.spotrac.com/nba/indiana-pacers/alize-johnson-27016/
  13. "Pacers vs. Bucks - Game Summary - October 19, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  14. "Warriors vs. Pacers - Game Summary - January 28, 2019". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  15. "Pacers vs. Celtics - Game Summary - January 9, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  16. "Pacers vs. Hawks - Game Summary - April 10, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  17. "Kings vs. Pacers - Box Score - October 5, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  18. "Alize Johnson - Men's Basketball". Missouri State. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  19. "Pacers Rookie Alize Johnson Leads for Mom and Six Younger Siblings". CloseUp360. November 24, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  20. Farenish, Melissa. "NBA player gives back to his hometown of Williamsport by building basketball courts". NorthcentralPA.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  21. "Local NBA Player Gives Back". wnep.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  22. "Alize Johnson's efforts continue, turns to park's basketball courts | News, Sports, Jobs - Williamsport Sun-Gazette". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  23. "Alize Johnson opens courts in town | News, Sports, Jobs - Williamsport Sun-Gazette". Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  24. Wheeler, Wyatt D. "When he's not dropping double-doubles, former MSU star Alize Johnson is giving back to others". Springfield News-Leader. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  25. Agness, Scott. "'I just want to see them with a smile on their face': Pacers..." The Athletic. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  26. "Alize Johnson Foundation Court Opening Today Saturday, June 1". NorthcentralPA.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  27. "Alize Johnson Opens Basketball Courts in Hometown". Indiana Pacers. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  28. "NBA Player Alize Johnson Helping Out in the Williamsport Community". wnep.com. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
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