Riley Johnson
X: @Riley_Johnson5
Instagram: @riley__johnson
5’10, 165 lbs, Class of 2027
Herbert Hoover High School, WV
Riley is a triple-threat scoring machine. Riley can hit any shot off of a screen and can finish through contact along with knocking down free throws. Riley is a clutch performer and a good teammate who not only pushes himself past his own limits but pushes his teammates to be their best as well. That's leadership at its finest. Riley mixes it up on the boards and can drop a few dimes. Riley is a tenacious lockdown defender.
This past season, Riley averaged 10.1 points, 1.1 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1 steal per game, finishing with 222 total points while shooting 40 3’s (38%), 41% FG, 72% FT, 22 Total TOs, which earned him All-Cardinal Conference and All Kanawha Valley Rookie Team.
Riley thinks he can improve on moving better off the ball and attacking tight lanes to the basket for some floaters and layups. Riley also feels that once he gets those things developed well he is going to be hard to stop. In the fall league, Riley averaged 26.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.1 APG, Setting the stage for a breakout season.
Riley's biggest improvement from last season to now is his aggressiveness on offense. Last year, Riley felt that he would only shoot threes and didn’t get to the basket as much, along with being stagnant without the ball. Now, Riley has improved his midrange and his finishing around the rim, also mixing in some step-backs and extra moves to create space and get his shot off.
Riley's biggest basketball accomplishment would definitely be making all conference as a freshman. Riley just feels like you don’t hear it happening that much, and also, he won a starting job that lasted him the entire year last year.
Riley's interests outside of basketball are to one day become a coach or a physical/personal trainer. The reason why is that he would like to give back all the knowledge and love from the game that he has received and given to other players looking to become great.
Riley's goal for this upcoming season is a state championship; that’s what he has always dreamed of, and he will do everything in his power to win one. Personally though, Riley would like to average around 15 points a game along with around 5 rebounds and some more steals, also around 60 threes made. As well as making an all-state team and, once again conference. I can accomplish this by continuing his hard work and believing that he is the hardest worker around because he believes that nobody wants it more than Riley does. Riley's biggest challenge will be to read defenses and not get in his head when things don’t go how he wants them to.
The biggest game Riley is looking forward to this year is definitely when they play Sissonville. They have been our rivals ever since he believes Hoover was around, but not only that, they sent us home early last year and beat us twice. Riley wants to beat them every time they play them this year and prove that they are the better team. Riley believes that they can make an intense run in the tournament this season. They are returning 4 starters and 2 all-state players. They have the size, mental toughness, speed, athleticism, and coaching that most teams don’t have. And most importantly, they all have strong relationships with one another outside of basketball, which Riley believes is the most important thing.
What fires Riley up most on the court is when one of their players or himself makes a big play on defense. Riley feels like it swings the game's momentum no matter the score.
When adversity hits, Riley tells himself that there's nobody better and nobody wants it more. Riley also relies on his teammates to push each other and himself to help fix what they may need to work on.
The best piece of advice ever given to Riley or that he heard is his favorite bible verse. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.” It just lets him know that when he has God on his side, Riley can’t be stopped
To make it to the next level, Riley believes that he must continue to work hard and work harder every single day. Riley must always keep up with his school work, which she is good at but cannot ever slack off. Riley has to understand that some players might be bigger, faster, and stronger than him, but he has to think that he is the better player when he matches up with them. Riley's mentality needs to stay strong, and he believes that will also push him to become his very best. Riley now sees himself as a low-mid major D1 guard or a D2 guard because of his ability to shoot, play-make, and on-ball defense. Also, Riley is very coachable, which he believes is a very good trait. Riley has 4 interests, 2 D1 and 2 D2, Old Dominion, Brown, Davis & Elkins, and Concord.
I agree Riley is a high-level stud and another savvy star on the rise. Incredible potential to thrive not only in high school but also at the college level. With his shooting ability, defense, and work ethic, Riley has a bright future. Riley is a powerful guard who is fierce and relentless in his pursuit to be the best he can be. Riley is hungry and focused on pushing himself harder every day than the day before. Riley's leadership is uncanny. Riley has all the tools, mindset, and pure will of a D1 added to D1. Work ethic is not an overstatement. He just has to keep grinding, believing, and pushing till he makes it. Interest will soon become offers as that fire burns that drives him this season. and Riley will add more as he This season will be one to remember. And I'm super hyped for that Sissionville rivalry to continue. Last year was a tremendous battle. Buckle up y'all.
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