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Chase Johnston

Men's Basketball Athletic Communications

For Chase Johnston, The Wait is Almost Over

Men's Basketball Athletic Communications

For Chase Johnston, The Wait is Almost Over

As legendary Florida rocker Tom Petty sang in his 1981 classic, "The waiting is the hardest part". But for Stetson guard Chase Johnston the waiting may have been the best part.
 
A redshirt freshman from Boca Raton, Fla., Johnston joined the Hatters last January after spending a semester at Purdue Fort Wayne. Upon arriving in DeLand, Johnston learned that, despite not playing for the Mastodons, he would have to sit out the entirety of the basketball season under NCAA transfer rules. But instead of sulking, Johnston used the time to grow as a player.
 
"Don't get me wrong, it was hard going to practice knowing every day that I couldn't play," he said. "But I kind of enjoyed it, and I bought into the process. I knew God had a plan for me and that this wasn't the end all, be all for me."
 
Players across the country struggle with sitting out a season. The mundane routine of practice, preparing for games in which they'll never play, has gotten the best of many. Johnston, however, embraced the opportunity.
 
"I fell in love with it because I learned so much watching film and listening to the coaches," he said. "When I first got to practice and knew I wouldn't be playing it was hard, but it became a growing experience for me and it will help me in the long run."
 
Johnston, who will be eligible when Stetson opens the season on Nov. 25, is going to help the Hatters in both the short and long run. The national all-time leader in three-pointers by a high school player (546), Johnston is expected to team with sophomore Rob Perry to give the Hatters one of the most explosive and dynamic backcourts in the ASUN Conference. The combination of Johnston and Perry on the perimeter is likely to allow more freedom for center Mahamadou Diawara as well.
 
"Chase brings the ability to shoot from great depth and with great consistency," Stetson head coach Donnie Jones said. "He will bring a great skill to stretch the defense, and that's going to help release some of the pressure on both Rob and Big Mo."

As a senior at national power Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Johnston was named the 4A player of the year after averaging 26.8 points, six rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. He was a finalist for Florida's Mr. Basketball after leading the Lions to their third straight state championship.
 
Johnston gained more national notoriety in January of his senior year when he scored 52 points against The Villages in the Montverde Academy Invitational, breaking the tournament record previously set by Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons.
 
Blessed with a God-given talent to score the basketball, Johnston's impressive shooting ability didn't necessarily come naturally.
 
"Some of my shooting is natural ability but most of it is work ethic and time spent shooting," he said. "Since I was 5 or 6 years old, I would go into the gym with my dad and brother and shoot baskets almost every day. My routine has always been to get up 1,000 shots a day. On a normal day, I make around 850 during practice. It takes about 90 minutes when I'm alone."
 
Not surprisingly, Johnston models his game after some of today's top shooters.
 
"I've always watched J.J. Reddick ever since he was at Duke," Johnston said. "I pay a lot of attention to Steph Curry, too, but my game is really modeled after Tyler Herro. I try to play with his confidence."
 
One bonus for Johnston this season is getting the opportunity to play alongside former high school teammate Stephan Swenson, a first-year freshman for the Hatters. Swenson and Johnston spent one season together at Westminster Academy, leading the Lions to a state title.
 
"It's a blessing to be able to play with him," Johnson said. "It's awesome to know the point guard you had in high school is your point guard in college. It's a special connection we'll get to have for four more years. I'm excited to keep working with him."
 
Like most players, Johnston has goals, both for the team and for himself.
 
"I like to set goals," he said. "The first objective is to win. At the end of the day, if we're winning, I'm happy. I have individual goals, too. When I finished high school, I looked up the all-time NCAA 3-point record (509, Fletcher Magee, Wofford, 2015-19) and breaking that is in the back of my mind. If I play professionally one day, I want to do the same thing at that level. It keeps me motivated. It makes you feel like all your hard work pays off."
 
Johnston and the Hatters won't have to wait much longer.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Mahamadou Diawara

#15 Mahamadou Diawara

F/C
6' 10"
Sophomore
Chase Johnston

#11 Chase Johnston

G
6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
Rob Perry

#2 Rob Perry

G
6' 4"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Mahamadou Diawara

#15 Mahamadou Diawara

6' 10"
Sophomore
F/C
Chase Johnston

#11 Chase Johnston

6' 2"
Redshirt Freshman
G
Rob Perry

#2 Rob Perry

6' 4"
Sophomore
G