Johnson Poised for Breakout Year as Team Leader
NC State senior guard Markell Johnson has become the face of the Wolfpack. With one year of eligibility remaining, he intends to make the best of it.
“He's a guy where if we're going to be good, he has to be a very good basketball player,” Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts said at Media Day. “I think he is one of the top five players in the ACC this year, but we have to figure out how to get him to play two halves.
“In some games he was tremendous in the first half and you didn't hear much out of him... you look at the ACC Tournament game against Clemson, he was tremendous... I have to get consistent play from my point guard.”
“For my senior year, I just want to have a more complete year from the start of the game to the end of the game,” Johnson said. “Whether it’s scoring or getting my teammates involved, I’m going to do whatever it takes to get my team to win.”
As one of the players that has the most experience in Keatts’ system, Johnson’s role as a team leader is as integral as his role as the point guard. Generally soft-spoken, Johnson’s focus moving forward has been on becoming more communicative.
“With me being a senior, Coach Keatts wants me to lead these guys,” Johnson said. “I’ve been working on [communicating] a lot this summer, talking to my guys, and knowing what to say and what not to say, encouraging them, and bringing them back up.”
Johnson ended the 2018-19 season with double-digit scoring in eight of the final nine games, including scoring 26 points in the NIT opener against Hofstra. Ending the basketball year averaging 12.6 points and 4.2 assists per game, the Pack will need to expect more from the Cleveland native.
“Consistency is key,” Johnson said. “Consistency is a big part of a lot of things. That’s one of my main focuses this year: being consistent on the defensive end, the offensive end, and in every aspect.”
Keatts pointed out that Johnson has shined in early-season workouts.
“He has played elite basketball,” he said of Johnson. “There have been times, and I'm usually not impressed with my guys in practice, he had a day about two weeks ago where he was really special, but I do think he has motivation after working out with a few teams.
“That kid can be a really good basketball player. As a veteran I expect a lot from him and for him to be a leader on and off the court, and if we're going to be a successful team, and I'm praying we are, Markell has to be a huge part of that.”
The 2019-20 season is looming closer, and each day brings the Wolfpack closer to its regular-season tip-off versus Georgia Tech on Nov. 5. Johnson will look to lead NC State to victory, and he is the one in the best position to set the tone for Keatts’ crew.