Versatile Johnson ready to take his game to Ivy League
Moorpark resident a star for Oaks Christian hoops team
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers WISE WINGMAN- Matt Johnson, who lives in Moorpark and attends Oaks Christian, will play college basketball at Columbia.

Maybe it's just a coincidence that Matt Johnson has the same initials as Magic Johnson.

Like the former Los Angeles Lakers legend, Matt Johnson is a tall point guard with a pass-first approach to the game.

A 6-foot-7, 195-pound senior for Oaks Christian's boys' basketball team, Johnson leads the Lions into their CIFSouthern Section Division IIIAA playoff opener on the road tonight at 7:30 p.m. against Ribet Academy.

Born and raised in Moorpark, the 18-year-old Johnson is one of those rare players who doesn't need to score to influence a game's outcome. Averaging 11.9 points per game, Johnson doesn't even lead his team scoring. That honor that goes to junior guard Tyler McGrath (15.6 ppg).

"Let's face it, the most important stat to most kids is scoring," Oaks Christian head coach Tom Roanhaus said. "He leads us in a bunch of stats, but it doesn't bother him a lick that he's not our leading scorer. . . . He's a very team-oriented player."

In essence, Johnson is more versatile than a chameleon that can walk and chew gum at the same time. He will be taking that versatility to Columbia University in New York this fall.

Although Ivy League schools do not give athletic scholarships, Johnson may receive some financial aid.

And how can anybody complain having to choose from Columbia, Harvard and Princeton?

"I clicked with the coaches and players at Columbia- and it's in New York," Johnson said of his official visit in October. "It had what I was looking for."

The point guard actually turned down several Division I scholarships, including offers from UC Irvine, UC Davis, Portland, Fresno State and Lehigh.

Penn and Cornell were the only Ivy League schools that didn't show interest in Johnson, according to the Moorpark native.

The coaching staff at Columbia is pleased to snag Johnson.

"Our first priority is to find guys who have excellent grades," said Columbia assistant coach Andrew Theokas, who recruited the point guard.

"There's potential for him to be a really effective player with his size and skill level. His size is definitely intriguing. . . . We think he will be a good fit for our program."

Johnson has a cumulative grade-point average of 3.6, but is actually carrying a 4.0 GPA this semester. He doesn't know what he'll study at Columbia, but he expects to be more of a combo guard on the East Coast.

"I'm going to go there with an open mind," Johnson said. "Their teams share the ball really well, and my strength is passing. I like to make people around me better."

Just like Magic Johnson.