City of Basketball Love

Tom Reifsnyder (@tom_reifsnyder)
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Following two seasons with the Glen Mills School, a residential facility for juvenile delinquents located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Anthony Johnson is back at Harrisburg High School.

A 6-foot-7 incoming senior forward, Johnson averaged double figures in both points (13.6) and rebounds (11.7) this past season for Glen Mills as he led the Battling Bulls to an 18-win season, which ended with a loss to Susquehanna Township and former Harrisburg teammate Dejour Williams in the opening round of the PIAA Class AAA tournament.

Johnson, who cites a "bad temper" as one of the reasons why he was sent to Glen Mills after his freshman year at Harrisburg, believes he has matured in multiple ways since arriving at the correctional school two years ago.

"[It helped me with] having more sportsmanship, being better to my teammates, and becoming a better person," Johnson said of Glen Mills.

Harrisburg head coach Kirk Smallwood, who coached Johnson as a freshman, is well aware of the forward's issues that landed him at Glen Mills.

And although he's familiar with Johnson, Smallwood is focused on establishing a better relationship with his reformed player to make him feel more comfortable in his new, but familiar, environment.

"Well, I know all that," Smallwood said when asked about Johnson's behavioral struggles. "What I’m trying to do is build a relationship with him and build some trust and just let him know that I’ll be here for him just like I’ve been here for all my players."

Smallwood, who coached the Cougars to a 20-9 record and a Class AAAA quarterfinal berth this past season, is excited to see how Johnson's versatility will improve his team in 2015-16.

"I just think we’ll be a little more multidimensional now, because not only can this kid play the post, he can guard and score on the perimeter," Smallwood said of Johnson. "I haven’t seen him play a whole lot recently, but of course growing up in the hood I watched him play all his life.

"I think that the success he had at Glen Mills will carry over to what we’re doing here now."

Smallwood has big expectations for Johnson this upcoming season, but he wants to see him "work hard and earn it" before he gives the incoming senior a starting role.

Over the next few months, Smallwood's squad will play at a number of team camps, including the Hoop Group Elite Team Camp, in an effort to "gel" and "find out the strengths and weaknesses of teammates."

Although Johnson spent the last two seasons away from his Harrisburg teammates, he feels that his familiarity with the bunch will help ease his transition.

"I think it’s going to help because I played with most of them, so I know how they play," Johnson said. "We had chemistry back then so I think it’s going to go well."

One particular Harrisburg player Johnson can't wait to get on the court with is junior Brennan Jackson, a 6-9 center. Jackson, who was still in middle school when Johnson started at Harrisburg, will play a significant role in the Cougars' frontcourt this season.

"I feel excited [to play with him] because I was always the tallest guy on my team," Johnson said of playing with Jackson. "I’ve never played with another big guy like that."

While it's likely Johnson will have ample opportunity to play alongside Jackson this season, he's not overly concerned with his projected playing time at the moment.

"Honestly, I don’t know," Johnson said of his expected role. "I never thought about it, but anything I can do for my team to win, I’ll do it."