Tyler Johnson, a 6-foot-2 junior guard from Minneapolis (MN) North, is one of the state’s top two-sport athletes.
Johnson averaged 19.6 points per game last season as he helped lead the Polars to a 19-11 mark, losing to Marantha 67-65 in the Section 4A finals. He scored in double figures in 29 of 30 games with 13 games of 20 or more points, including a season-best 33 points versus Minneapolis Southwest.
Johnson attended the Minnesota home basketball games versus Illinois and Penn State this past season.
Gopher Hole recently caught up Johnson to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: How pleased are you with how well things went AAU-wise this summer?
Tyler Johnson: It went pretty good. A lot of experience. It was fun, too. It was a lot of fun.
Gopher Hole: Do you think that is going to help you a lot as a player as you are one of the few players that are playing up at the 17-and-under level, going up against bigger and stronger players?
Tyler Johnson: It is going to help me a lot. It made me stronger. It made me play hard. It was just a lot of fun.
Gopher Hole: Football is coming up soon. What are the expectations for North this upcoming season?
Tyler Johnson: Football-wise, we want to take advantage of what we’ve got. Take advantage of our talent. We want to prove to everyone what we can do. By doing that, we want to win a City Conference first and make a state title run.
Gopher Hole: North has some football tradition, but hasn’t been as success in the last few years (finishing 5-22 from 2010-12 before going 7-3 last season). Is that something you guys have talked about trying to get things turned around there?
Tyler Johnson: Yes. That is all our coaches talk about. They talk about changing the community. They see that everyone is winning, they are going to come out and watch us.
Gopher Hole: What position are you going to play?
Tyler Johnson: I am going to play quarterback and defensive back.
Gopher Hole: Is that something you like, playing both sides of the field?
Tyler Johnson: Yes. I like playing both sides.
Gopher Hole: I know that you were a very young team last season, but you will have most of the key guys back. What are the expectations basketball-wise?
Tyler Johnson: I would say that the expectations are for us to redeem ourselves. We have got to come out strong and since we lost in the section finals last year, we want to come back and probably play that same team and beat them this time.
Gopher Hole: Is that a motivating factor having gotten so close to making it to the state tournament?
Tyler Johnson: Yes. We take that as motivation.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment? What schools are you hearing from right now?
Tyler Johnson: I am hearing from Iowa, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Minnesota, Drake and South Dakota.
Gopher Hole: I know that it is still so early only going into your junior season, but have you had a chance to really visit some schools yet?
Tyler Johnson: I haven’t visited yet. I might visit some in the fall.
Gopher Hole: Have you thought about what schools you would like to check out?
Tyler Johnson: I haven’t thought about it yet.
Gopher Hole: What are you hearing from Minnesota?
Tyler Johnson: They are just keeping in touch with me right now like most of the schools.
Gopher Hole: What things are you continuing to work on to improve yourself as a player?
Tyler Johnson: I would say my body control, because when I go into the paint with a big boy, I want to stay in control and finish the basket.