Cory Johnson goes pro!

Former SectionEE interviewee Cory Johnson has signed a professional contract to play in the Dutch basketball league!  Pack your wooden shoes and guide to windmills Cory.  Best of luck!

Full story click here!

Looking back with Cory Johnson

Crusader fan favorite Cory Johnson was gracious enough to take some time away from his studies, workouts, and weight sessions to answer some questions for Section EE about his time spent as a Valparaiso Crusader.  Before we get to the interview lets take a look at some of Cory's accomplishments during his playing time at VU.  In his first season as a Crusader, Johnson was named 2nd Team All Horizon League.  His 15.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg averages were both top ten in the league that year.  That season he scored in double digits in 28 of the 32 games he played.  This past season he averaged over 14 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while being assigned to defend the biggest baddest guys the opponents could throw at him (more on this later).

Cory had some monster scoring games while at Valpo.  During his junior year he put up 31 points against Detroit, had a 28 point 10 rebound effort against Butler, put up 26 points in a game against Arkansas Fort Smith, and had a real nice Wisconsin trip scoring 21 at Milwaukee and 20 more against Green Bay.  This past season Johnson put up 25 points at Toledo, had 33 points in the thriller against Oakland, and 26 points in a game against Youngstown State.  Lets get to the interview!


HC: What is going to be your fondest memory of your time here at Valpo?

CJ:   Valpo has been so great to me, I’m not sure I can narrow it down to anything specific. I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people in and out of the community, get a great education and play the sport I love. 

HC: You were the fan favorite last year, what did it mean to you to have the fans chanting your name every game?

CJ:  COR-Y JOHN-SON…. COR-Y JOHN-SON haha! I am going to miss that! Stuff like that is what I think college basketball is all about. When fans are getting on their feet, yelling, cheering and enjoying the game of basketball, as a player it makes it that much more fun to compete. 

HC: What was the high point of last season? The low?

CJ:  This was a very exciting and interesting year, which provided many high points and like any season a few low. Winning twenty-three games and taking home two holiday tournament championships - a lot of great memories came out of it. One memorable win came in a shootout up in Oakland (MICHIGAN). I have never been to California, so I was excited to see them on the schedule. My parents are lucky I realized it was in Michigan before they booked a flight!

Another great win was against the Missouri Valley champs, Missouri State. Having Dickie V in the house was exciting and I even got in a quick game of one on one with him. What really threw me off was when a man with Dickie V came up to me after the game, complimented my play and congratulated us on the win. I’m not sure if anyone else noticed the legendary brainiac of sports, Howie Schwab in the ARC (Stump the Schwab – Google it!).

Cory celebrates with fans after a big win!

Finally, who can forget knocking off archenemy Butler at home in OT. Howard Little - I am still in love with you for making those shots!

For me the lowest point came in those trips up to Green Bay and Milwaukee in such a crucial time of the season. Being born in the Wisconsin, I was a little hurt on how the state treated me. I played terrible. In basketball, you have to have a short memory. Those are games I want to forget. I focus on the many positives we had this year!

 

HC: The fans were all pretty disappointed in the CIT bid; the performance on the court was equally disappointing against Iona.  Looking back, what happened that night?

CJ:   I don't think there is anything to be disappointed about getting a bid to the CIT tournament. Obviously, going to the NCAA or NIT tournament would have been a special experience, but most team’s goals at the beginning of the year are to make some sort of post season and we did that. I can guarantee A LOT of other teams would love to have been in the situation we were in. We lost to a good basketball team in Iona that won twenty-five games last year and ended up making it to the championship game of the CIT. 

HC:  What are your post Valpo aspirations?

CJ:   This next year, I am looking to continue playing basketball professionally, most likely in the European market. I signed with a German agent that also represents former Crusader Benjamin Fumey. Along with playing basketball professionally, I will be finishing the Valpo MBA program remotely through the Internet. Being able to come back next May, walk across the stage and shake President Heckler’s hand for the second time is something I am looking forward to. 

HC:  Any good stories you can share about Homer?

Dancin' Homer?

CJ:   One of my favorite Homer stories that I actually shared during the banquet this year took place at my first Valpo basketball game. Like any new experience, you never really know exactly what to expect and I was excited to see how Coach Homer went about business on game days. Walking into to the locker room just before tipoff to the sight of Coach Homer Drew and fellow teammate Brandon McPherson breaking it down (dancing) to the pre-game tunes was definitely not what I expected. It was absolutely hysterical! Right then, Assistant Coach Luke Gore looked at me and said, ‘little bit different than anywhere else you been, huh?’ I laughed and told him ‘I picked the right place.’ 

HC:  How is Bryce going to do as the headman? Should we as fans expect to see anything different then what we saw when Homer was head coach (faster pace, different types of defense)?

CJ:   I think it’s great that Bryce has been given this opportunity to follow in his father’s footsteps. His has had a phenomenal work ethic his whole life. That shows through his successes. Bryce means a lot to this school as a person and former player. Now that I am now a officially a full time Valpo fan, I can’t wait to watch the Crusaders take the court next season under Coach Bryce’s leadership.

I think the coaches have done a great job in the past of building the style of play around the personnel. The last two years we have been one of the highest scoring teams in the conference. I am a big fan of giving the players the freedom to get up and down the court and make plays. 

HC:  Most nights you had to play out of position and defend guy who were bigger and stronger.  Most of the time you did quite well.  Was it frustrating to have to do that on a nightly basis?  Who was the toughest assignment defensively for you?

CJ4 playing defense on JuJuan Johnson

CJ:  Throughout my career, I have been assigned to guard some beastly guys like Greg Oden, Cole Aldrich, Blake Griffin, Eli Holman and Dexter Pittman. Being undersized, I tried to be active, move my feet, make them take a tough shot and hope that it didn’t go in. It typically would not turn out good for me if I got in a wrestling match with guys these. The toughest guy I remember guarding was David Hoskins. He was a 6’5” four man for K-State who was strong and relentless at attacking the basket. 

HC:  Anything else you'd like to add about your time at Valpo?

CJ:  Thanks for having me!

Thank you Cory for your time and cooperation in answering these questions.  We (the fans) appreciated everything you did on the court and in our community!  

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Still to come....

We've entered the slow time for college basketball.  Over the next couple months we will try to keep you entertained.  Here are a few topics you can expect to be addressed in the not so distant future:

• An interview with former VU fan favorite Cory Johnson
• An in depth look at the other Horizon League Teams (hopefully with an interview of an opposing player/coach for each one)
• A breakdown with predictions of the Crusader schedule when it is released
• A new writer on SectionEE
• Hopefully, a few other interviews will be thrown into the mix as well

Please check back often or put your email address into the space provided above this post so you won't miss out on anything.

New Crusaders 2011-2012

The Crusaders had four scholarships available (and potentially a fifth with the possiblity of Brandon Wood being on the move) with which to improve upon a team that finished the season 23-12 and a disappointing fourth in the Horizon League.  The Crusader coaching staff have had the difficult challenge of finding guys to fill the void left by Cory Johnson, Howard Little, and Michael Rogers.  So far, so good.

Dino Jakolis

Today, Coach Drew inked LaLumiere guard/forward Dino Jakolis as his third recruit of the season to go along with JUCO transfer Richie Edwards and Virginia Tech transfer Ben Boggs.  Lets take a look at what each player brings to the table and how/if they can be an immediate help to the 2011-2012 Crusader team.

Dino Jakolis is a 6'7'', 215 pound, kid from Croatia who spent last year playing for the 17-9 LaLumiere Lakes.   Jakolis is a small forward who can score and rebound.  He averaged over 12 points per game and 4 rebounds this past season for the Lakers.  Hopefully he can put on a few pounds of muscle and lend the Crusaders a much needed hand inside both defending the other team's big guys and rebounding.  Jakolis has range up to 22 feet and has a nice pull up jumper off the dribble.  Jakolis has played on the Croatian national team so he has big game experience.  He is ranked 86th at his position according to ESPN.

Richie Edwards

Justin "Richie" Edwards comes in as JUCO transfer from Hillsborough Community College in Tampa.  He is built similarly to Jakolis at 6'8'' 215 pounds.  Edwards averaged 15.6ppg and 7.7rpg this past season and hit 40% of his three point attempts.  "Richie is a high post four-man who is very offensive minded," Hillsborough coach Byron Samuels said. "He is working on being more of a complete player and to become a better rebounder, but he'll be able to help Valparaiso right away."  Sounds like he will be able to step in and fill the void left by Johnson, and probably be a more potent outside shooter then Johnson ever was.  I'm hearing he will also lead the Crusaders in tatoo's as he is well inked.  Edwards was ranked 28th at his position coming out of high school by ESPN.

Ben Boggs

Ben Boggs is the third recruit and another transfer.  Boggs comes to Valpo from Virginia Tech.  He is a 6'3'' shooting guard who was ranked 56th at his position coming out of high school by ESPN.  Boggs will look to step into a already crowded backcourt and look to stretch the opposing defense.

So far this has been a solid recruiting class for Coach Drew.  He has brought in several guys with collegiate playing experience as well as a third guy who has played in national competitions.  With one more recruit to go, lets hope Coach Drew and his staff can find another big body to play in the paint.  Let's also hope they get lucky and Brandon Wood decides it is in his best interest to return to Valparaiso.

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