He’s been Missouri State’s most productive player since jump street this season, but that’s not quite enough for most of Springfield to get his name right.
“I still get Aleez here and there. Alee-zay, or whatever,” MSU junior forward Alize Johnson says.
For the record, it’s a-lih-ZAY. And it’s about time to appreciate what the two-time Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week means to the Bears.
“I really appreciate the awards, and obviously my confidence is up right now,” he said.
It should be. Through Johnson’s first nine games as a Bear he has five double doubles, and is averaging 14.4 points and 9 rebounds per game – both team highs. His team is also off to a 6-3 start. A satisfactory turn, to say the least, in what’s been a winding road to Division I.
It began in high school. After a breakout junior season, Johnson and his team turned heads his senior year at St. John Neumann High in Williamsport, Penn. His team went 30-1 and he was first team all state. But he had trouble latching on at a Division-I school.
“Out of high school I didn’t have the grades to go to Division I right away. I went to junior college and learned a lot there.”
That junior college run at Frank Phillips College was just as impressive. He was a NJCAA All-American honorable mention his sophomore season, posting 16.7 points and 12 rebounds per game. More importantly, he worked at his academics so he could get to this level.
“It’s been rough as far as getting eligible, but I made it,” Johnson said.
And he’s making the most of it. If one phrase summarized his life, it’d be sticking with it. He grew up thinking of himself as a point guard (he’s also fourth on the team in assists). He was “only” 6’2″ as a high school sophomore, but he kept growing. When he grew to 6’9″ he learned a new set of skills.
“Those guard skills stuck with me the whole time,” Johnson said. “I never lost them. I tried to develop my game as a post player.”
Alize is just as diligent off the court as he is on it. He’s the oldest of eight kids in his family. His mother Chantelle Johnson and step-dad Adam Edwards are big influences on him – as is his family’s faith.
Being an older brother is important to him, and most of his siblings are quite a bit younger than him. He takes it upon himself to check up on them and see how they’re doing in school and on the field, and tries to set an example for them to follow.
“I know they look up to me, as do a lot of people in [Williamsport]. I try to have that role model type of role towards kids and my siblings. I want them to do the right thing in their life, so I’m being that person right now.”
He’s also being the player Missouri State needs him to be.
