Deven Johnson is athlete of the week
With Deven Johnson going to school at MIT Academy but playing basketball for Vallejo High, he’s constantly on the move.
Once on the basketball court, Redhawks head coach Andrew Johansen also likes Johnson to be in motion.
The 17-year-old senior shined last week for Vallejo, averaging 19 points a game for three contests that saw the Redhawks pick up two wins. Johansen said a lot of those points came for Johnson while in transition.
“He’s always aggressive and it’s pretty obvious that when he’s the most aggressive on the floor that’s when he’s going to be successful,” the Vallejo head coach said. “Especially against Armijo it was his rebounding and defense that allowed him to get into transition where he would score a lot of points and help the offense more. When he’s being active on defense and not relaxing it really helps him. He can do well in a halfcourt game, but his buckets go way up when we’re in transition.”
Johnson scored 13 points in a win over Hercules, 20 points in a win over Armijo and 24 more in a loss to St. Mary’s.
Johnson is the Times-Herald Athlete of the Week.
The senior said his teammates were a big factor in him having a stellar week.
“We are very well off when we’re moving the ball around,” Johnson said. “When we’re playing more as a team and communicating better and rebounding and playing defense well, that’s when we’re really good. But we have to keep it up as the season goes on.”
Vallejo lost its first few games to start the season but have improved each week.
“I think the attitude of the team in the last week or two has gotten a lot better,” Johansen said. “We have a growth mindset here. When we fail at something that is not the end, that is the beginning. That is when the work starts. On every setback we can get better. The guys are really seeming to buy into that now.”
Deven Johnson’s success going up a notch in the last two games (Armijo, St. Mary’s) could be linked to the return of his twin brother, Daylan. Daylan was injured in the football season, but returned to the court against Armijo. Deven definitely noticed.
“He gives me more energy,” Deven said. “When he’s playing aggressive it makes me want to play aggressive. And we’ve played with each other all our lives, so when he gets a rebound he’s immediately looking for me on the break. He knows how to play with me well.”
While Deven has seen his point totals go up, Johansen believes his strongest part of his game comes from his defense and rebounding. That was very evident in the game against Armijo.
“Honestly, we were up pretty big in that game, but then we couldn’t score at the end,” Deven Johnson said. “We needed a stop in the last minute of the fourth quarter and thankfully we were able to get it. But we have to keep it up as the season goes on.”
Honorable mention
• Mia Bonotan, Benicia girls wrestling. Bonotan finished in second place in her weight class at the West Coast Tournament of Champions.
• Angel Cerrato, Bethel boys basketball. Cerrato had 31 points in a win over John Swett on
Friday.
• Jaquan Edwards, Vallejo boys basketball. Edwards had 17 points in a win over Hercules and 11 more in a win over Armijo.
• Gabby Gonzalez, Bethel girls soccer. Gonzalez scored twice in a win over John Swett on Tuesday.
• Jennifer Gonzalez, Vallejo girls wrestling. Gonzalez took first in the 108-pound division at the Castro Valley Girls Wrestling Tournament
• Jada Hunter, Vallejo girls basketball. Hunter had 10 points, 10assists and 10 rebounds in a win over Hercules. She also had 10
points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in a loss to Sacramento Adventist and had a quadruple double of 10points, 10assists, 10 rebounds and 10steals in a win over De Anza.
• Maylin Reyes, Vallejo girls wrestling. Reyes took first place in the 111-pound division at the Castro Valley Girls Wrestling Tournament
• Maddie Salinas, Benicia girls soccer. Salinas scored twice for the Panthers in a win over Armijo on Dec. 16.
• Daniella Tenorio, Vallejo girls basketball. Tenorio had 24points, nine assists and 10steals in a win over De Anza.