Having grown up right here in South Bend, Kevin ‘KJ’ Johnston started playing sports from a very young age. KJ played baseball and basketball as a child and knew from the beginning he’d play in high school and maybe even beyond. As a senior at John Adams, KJ is a varsity baseball and basketball player who, despite being out for the last two seasons due to an injury, is eager to make quite the comeback for his senior season. Johnston is currently in the midst of his senior basketball season, dominating at point guard. “[to be honest], he’s a great leader,” said one of KJ’s varsity teammates when asked to define him as a player.
Johnston is also a diehard Indiana University basketball fan! From growing up watching IU sports, to Trey Galloway (IU basketball guard) being a close family friend, to his dad coaching CJ Gunn (IU basketball guard) in the 2022 Indiana vs Kentucky high school all-star basketball game, KJ has been pretty much immersed in the Hoosier culture since the beginning.
After talking with KJ, he expressed much appreciation and love for his friends, family, and coaches. When asked to describe him, friends and teammates use words such as “chill, outgoing, and funny.” Carter Johnston, KJ’s younger brother, is also a student at Adams (class of 2027). Carter and KJ have a pretty good relationship, though KJ tends to be rather tough on him, in his words, “it’s all love at the end of the day to make [Carter] a better player.” Another important family highlight in KJ’s life is his mom, Sarah. She has always been his #1 supporter and is always there, no matter what.
KJ also explained that what he’ll miss most about Adams is “the family aspect and the coaches.” KJ values his relationship with his teammates greatly. He considers them part of his family. Johnston has grown particularly close to fellow senior Amari Wesson. KJ and Amari have been brothers since 8th grade. “Good guy,good friend, he loves his family and the things that he holds closest to him. . . . He’s been one of the only people to treat me like family” (Wesson on his relationship with KJ).
Additionally, KJ was sure to touch on his coaches and how they’ve impacted his growth as an athlete and person. He says, “They push us hard every day to make us better;they might get on you bad but it’s just to make us better.” When on the topic of his coaches, KJ also talked about how one of the foremost things he’ll miss about Adams is the opportunity to play under some of “the best coaches in the area”.
Born a Hoosier, growing up watching the Hoosiers, it’s only right that one becomes a Hoosier themselves. And that’s exactly how it happened for KJ. As of January 10th of this year, he got accepted and decided to officially become an Indiana University student. Johnston will be IU Bloomington class of 2028 majoring in sports management. “I love being around sports, I want to work for a professional sports program” – this was KJ’s reasoning for his choice of major.
Finally, as the second semester begins and graduation is getting closer, KJ has a few words of wisdom he’d like to leave for the students that are continuing their experience as an eagle, “Be the best you can be and don’t cheat yourself. Keep working.”
The Tower wishes the best to KJ and the rest of the class of 2024 on all future endeavors and adventures you have yet to encounter!
