I just learned that my friend, BJ, Brent Johnson has died.
If I told you that if there was one person that didn’t have any enemies, that was generally loved by anyone that met him or knew him — that was BJ.
He had an infectious smile and you couldn’t go anywhere with him because he was like the mayor, he knew everyone and talked to everyone.
When I was at Texas, I met BJ. The first time was at Jester Hall when he was visiting Lance Blanks who’s room was diagonal to mine. He would come up to Austin on occasion.
It was the summer of 1990 I decided to intern at Sid Blanks Sports, in Houston and work for Lance’s father, Sid and work with Karl, Ping and BJ.
What an incredible experience! There were some work disappointments and my career didn’t take off the way that I expected but to spend every day with BJ that summer was something I’ll never forget.
BJ knew everybody and we are talking 1990 in Houston.
On the weekends, it was Second Baptist in the day to see the basketball runs with Dream and Clyde playing. BJ was one heck of a player, he would make everyone around him better and he knew how to win. I want to say that he played his college ball at East Tennessee State.
At night, it was hanging out in the clubs with the likes of Warren Moon, at Deck-A-Dance, or some other spot.
Summer ended and my dream of being a sports agent quickly did as well. As I continued in basketball…whenever there was a big basketball event, Final Four, McDonald’s game, Hoop Summit, NBA Combine...I would inevitably run into my friend BJ.
Every time I saw him, it was just like the summer of ’90 in Houston, such pure joy and great company to be around. He was like the Pope, you would have to wait your turn to talk with him because BJ knew everyone!
I often would joke that he was the oldest young guy I knew.
About 4 years ago, I ran into BJ at an Iona College game and interviewed him for a story I published at Basketball Times. People would always spout off how they could be a scout and I wanted to get out how hard these guys worked.
As a tribute to my friend, I’m posting the article here…
from The Basketball Times March 2016
What The Scout Sees
New Rochelle, New York sits 18 miles from downtown Manhattan. It’s a bustling suburb filled with working people. It’s the perfect setting for mid-major college basketball, home of the Metro Atlantic Conference’s Iona College Gaels. Twenty-five hundred strong pack into the square structure that is Hynes Athletic Center. The Gaels are riding a 26-game home winning streak and they face the Monmouth Hawks, the darlings of the season to date. It’s a big deal. A 9pm Friday night start on ESPN3. The stands are restless with supporters from both teams, the only tranquil place is the far endline, where a table lies with three seats for the NBA scouts. Dressed in sweaters and slacks, they sit, thumbing tonight’s game notes.
The Metro Atlantic Conference is not known as a hotbed of NBA talent. Only former Rider star, Jason Thompson who rides the pine for the Golden State Warriors, is currently in the league. In total, 33 M.A.C. players have appeared in an NBA game.
Houston Rockets’ scout, Brent “BJ” Johnson occupies one of the three seats. BJ has been scouting for twenty years. This is one of five games he’ll attend this week. Tomorrow morning he’s up early to catch a flight to North Carolina. He’ll be in Chapel Hill for a noon tip to see the Tarheels vs NC State. He follows a schedule set weeks in advance of nearly 300 players to see. “The list gets weeded out pretty quick. You see people but you have to eliminate (people from the list) as well.” Johnson said “You see a guy and envision what his potential is going to be. Can they transfer their skills to the rhythm and speed of the game? You are grading based on different qualities; physical, mental, athletic and technical. Everyone’s notes go into a database”
The Rockets’ scouting department operates a little different than some of the other NBA teams. They are one of 19 clubs that own their own Development League team, so as an organization, the Rockets’ scouts evaluate players for both. The scouting team is made of seven or eight voices including the general manager, the assistant general manager, director of international scouting, two foreign scouts, Johnson and others. “It’s a collective process. We all are looking to see who can fit our team. The most important prospects, everyone sees from one to three times.” said Johnson
Before they tip in New Rochelle, Johnson completed his notes from the prior game and previewed tonight’s prospects. He arrives at the gym as early as possible to view the players warming up before the game. “I get down to the floor to see who I know, coaches, strength trainer, managers and have some conversations about the prospects on my list. You do a lot of research on the prospect online as well. You better know what type of person that prospect you are evaluating is. The character of the sports vehicle is so big, if your issue is larger than your game; people are going to pass on you. The investment and scrutiny today is bigger than ever before. ” Said Johnson “I watch the players’ warmup, see them up close, evaluate their actual size, true heights for myself — because you can’t believe what’s in the game program. I try to get a good feel while on the floor, the demeanor of the player, their character, how they interact with their teammates and their work habits.”
The buzzer sounds, it’s gametime. The players take their spots on the circle for the jump ball.
“When the game tips the first things you notice are; height, size, speed and quickness. You have to notice it at every position. I want to know what’s the most important thing he (the prospect) brings to the table for himself. On the other side, you are eliminating based on characteristics as well. The way the game is today, if you can’t shoot, space the floor, you better be- an unbelievable athlete that can get to the rim. If you can do both…then you can be pretty darn good.” Said Johnson
When the rules changed, eliminating hand checking, the NBA became less physical and more skilled. It opened up the game to the international player and guys who could play now that couldn’t before because of the spacing. This enabled the NBA to evolve into a worldwide brand.
One of the challenges in evaluating the college ranks is deciphering prospects from a system that is based for four-year players. A player has the same role in that specific system. Certain styles translate but some put guys in a position where they can’t grow as a player. Once that player goes to the NBA, his instincts have to take over.
“The biggest jump to the NBA is the physicality, speed and quickness. The other huge thing when you get to the NBA that guys don’t realize is that your consistency is humungous. You don’t have time to make mistakes. The hardest part for young players is learning how to be consistent. They don’t realize how hard they have to work, that they need to keep their bodies right and study film. Most college guys just go on talent alone. The sleeper (player) keeps evolving.” said Johnson
Johnson is more of skill guy than anything else and no skill is more important to him than shooting. He also believes that players must have a feel for the game. To develop this it’s critical to play different roles with different people.
What Johnson has learned in his 20 years doing this, “the great players in the NBA, have great work habits. They work more than they play. That’s what makes the game look so easy.” said Johnson “The hardest part of scouting is evaluating the mental component with all the skill, rarely does that come together. A player’s ability to learn and grow accelerates his success. (The) mentally strong can get to where they have to go -quicker. You take notice of guys who know how to win and guys around winning programs.”
On this night, Monmouth defeats Iona, 110–102. After a post-game melee between the teams mars the highly entertaining contest, Johnson heads to his hotel to work on his game notes. Morning will come quickly; there is another game and group of prospects to evaluate.
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I’ll miss you my friend!
