Gophers Coaches Richard Pitino and Ben Johnson watched Jarvis earlier this week.
Jarvis Johnson, a 2015 point guard from Minneapolis (MN) DeLaSalle, has helped lead the Islanders to its third straight Class AAA championship game after a 67-41 win over Orono Friday afternoon,
Johnson, who received a scholarship offer from Minnesota in April, helped lead the Islanders to its second Class AAA state title last March as they finished 30-1 and went undefeated against in-state school. They are 25-3 this year and have won 22 straight games and will face Austin for the second straight year in the title tilt.
Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino and assistant Ben Johnson watched Johnson play at their opening round game at Williams Arena before leaving for the Big Ten Tournament.
Gopher Hole caught up with Johnson after their win over Orono to learn the latest on his recruitment.
Gopher Hole: How does it feel to get back to the state championship game for the third straight year?
Jarvis Johnson: It feels good. We have got a lot of wins under our belt. It feels good to be back.
Gopher Hole: Does this feel different that the other two?
Jarvis Johnson: A little bit, knowing that the seniors wouldn’t be back next year. It feels a little different knowing that I will be playing my last game with them.
Gopher Hole: You haven’t, to be honest, had very many close games recently. Does that make it tough as you advance in the state tournament and might have a tight game?
Jarvis Johnson: No, it doesn’t make it hard. We just play every game the same way. Prepare the same way, so I don’t think that it will be any harder.
Gopher Hole: How about the team’s play? Ever since Reid Travis came back, you haven’t lost. How pleased are you with how well you have been playing?
Jarvis Johnson: We’re playing well. We are just rotating the ball more, finding him very easily. There are not too many high schools that can guard him really, so it is easy when he is in the game.
Gopher Hole: Has there been an adjustment with him back in the lineup because your teammates had to have a different role when he was out?
Jarvis Johnson: It was an adjustment, but he fit in right away because he started practicing and we started practicing with him, but he wasn’t fully ready, so he just got right into it.
Gopher Hole: Your first game against St. Paul Central, Coach Pitino and Coach Johnson, were there to watch you play. How does that make you feel knowing that those type of coaches are coming to watch you?
Jarvis Johnson: It makes me feel great. I still don’t worry about them. I just take care of my team. Doing what I do best.
Gopher Hole: Do you know that they are there or do you try to not know that they are there?
Jarvis Johnson: I don’t really worry too much about it.
Gopher Hole: What would it mean to win a third straight title?
Jarvis Johnson: It would mean everything to me, especially having alumni in the crowds, that is big for us and just winning a third one is big.
Gopher Hole: Obviously there is a ton of history at DeLaSalle, but not many teams have won three straight titles. Would that make it even more special?
Jarvis Johnson: It would. We always talk about when we graduated high school and one day come back to see that we won three in a row. It has never been done yet at DeLaSalle, so I would want to do that.
Gopher Hole: What is the latest on your recruitment? Any new schools getting involved?
Jarvis Johnson: No.
Gopher Hole: Any recent visits?
Jarvis Johnson: No.
Gopher Hole: I know that some Gopher fans were a little worried after seeing an article that Wisconsin was involved in your recruitment and was a possible landing spot for you? Most Gopher fans hate their rival to the East. What are you hearing from Wisconsin?
Jarvis Johnson: I am still hearing the same thing. They still want me to come play for them. I would say that all my schools are equal right now, so there are no favorites at this point.
Gopher Hole: Which Badgers’ game did you go to?
Jarvis Johnson: I went when they played Michigan State.
Gopher Hole: After the state tournament, you are going to start up with AAU. You had a lot of success last year, winning the AAU Nationals in Orlando. What are you expecting this year with a new cast of players with you being the experienced guy?
Jarvis Johnson: I would just say pick up where we left off. Try to make it to Peach Jam again. That was really fun for us, so trying to make it to Peach Jam is a big thing for us.
Gopher Hole: How much do you think that playing on the EYBL circuit has helped you improve as a player to where you are now?
Jarvis Johnson: Good, because you play against the top talent every tournament that you go to, so the EYBL is where it is at.