”I’m on a mission to become a pro…”
Johnson has transferred to St. Bend's in NJ
Leaving the Bronx, New York high school of St. Raymond is becoming similar to a “Trending Topic” on Twitter.
GothamHoops.com has learned exclusively that Sidiki Johnson is leaving St. Raymond’s high school and transferring to St. Benedict’s Prep
It all began when rising juniors Jose Rodriguez and Joey De La Rosa decided to leave the Ravens and transfer to Impact Basketball Academy in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Not too shortly after, senior guard Harold McBride had substituted St. Ray’s for the Impact Academy campus in Jacksonville, Florida.
“The reason for leaving [St. Raymond] was to better ourself for college. Playing in the city is not goin to help us. [By] goin away, u play against different people and more colleges are goin to see you,” said the rising senior.
De La Rosa has also left the Bronx program
The number of Ravens flying away from the Bronx didn’t stop there.
Steve Wittingham, a senior point guard left the Bronx school for New Rochelle high school in New Rochelle, NY.
Even as dissapointed New York City high school hoops fans were after these sudden transfers, fanatics were still optimistic about getting the privilege to watch 2011 big man Sidiki Johnson take the floor.
As of Thursday night, it seems the most-touted Raven will be leaving the “City That Never Sleeps” along with Rodriguez, De La Rosa, McBride and Wittingham.
GothamHoops.com’s Jeremy Bauman was able to talk to the University of Arizona commit and discuss why the sudden transfer.
“I just wanted to go somewhere, get out [of] the city, better myself as a person,” says Johnson.
“St. Raymond’s is a good program and Coach [Antigua] didn’t do anything wrong.”
The 6′8″ 220 lbs. rising junior will be attending St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey for the next two years of high school.
Johnson was the NIKE Tournament of Champions High School Game MVP on August 22nd
“I know Coach [Dan Hurley of St. Benedict's] asked me to play for him and I’m coming to play right away, impact the game offensively and defensively and he expects a lot from me.”
The Gray Bees went an impressive 24-3 last season while playing an extremely competitive national schedule.
Thrilling wins from this previous year include a 89-53 win over Lance Stephenson and the Abraham Linoln (Brooklyn, NY) Railsplitters. A 75-61 win against Mountain State Academy (Beckly, West Virgina) in the Prime Time Shootout also stood out.
“Im getting away from home and it’s a college prep school, so I’m gonna be ready for college, it’s a wonderful school,” says the New York City native.
Johnson committed to Arizona in early August of this past summer. Questions arose whether his college-decision came too early, but the powerful big man feels St. Benedict’s will give him the proper experiences he needs to help him get ready for when its time to throw on a “Wildcats” jersey in 2012.
“It will prepare me for college because I’m away from home and I’ll be playing against the best guys in the country.”
How will the new-Gray Bee adjust to a sudden alter in coaching techniques? Johnson believes he’ll fair just fine under Coach Hurley’s supervision.
Thompson is now playing at Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nevada)
“[Coach Hurley's] offense is 4 out and 1 in so I’m going to be playing on the perimeter, wherever he needs me I’ll be there and I’m going to get better [at St. Benedict's].”
“I’m on a mission to become a pro, I want to work as hard as a pro works so that I can get better and better,” says the new forward of the St. Benedict Gray Bees.
Only time will tell. But as of now, Johnson is just living his life and is doing everything he can to complete his “Mission.”
*Article written by Ray Anczelowicz and interview with Sidiki Johnson constructed by Jeremy Bauman
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