| Dedication, determination and a will to succeed are the underlying attributes of an aspiring basketball player. Taylor Johnston, a six-foot, seven inch, 19- year-old from Whitby, received six scholarship offers, but he decided to go to Binghamton University in New York to play forward for the Bearcats. He started playing basketball in Grade 5, when he decided that he loved the game and wanted to play. And in Grade 8 Johnston knew he wanted to earn a scholarship because basketball had become his passion. “Pretty much in Grade 8 I decided that I wanted to get a scholarship and play basketball,” he said. Playing on teams outside of school, Johnston met coach Wayne Dawkins, who had also coached at West Hill Collegiate. Going to West Hill Collegiate in Scarborough would be a long commute for him, but he knew that this was for the best. His family and Dawkins agreed. “In Grade 8, I decided I wanted it and I was going to do whatever it took to make it happen, even if it meant traveling to West Hill, an hour and 30 minutes everyday,” he said While playing basketball outside of school, he played Amateur Athletic Union in the United Sates where college scouts became interested. A couple of scouts came to Toronto to see him play. He was offered scholarships by his fourth year of high school, but decided to stay to improve his marks. He picked Binghamton University and so far he loves it .The university is only five hours away from home. He said it offers great academics and the coaches were really interested. Working with his new teammates has been fun because a lot of things happened that were unexpected, but other than that it’s been great. For example Johnston has a teammate from his rival school Eastern Commerce Collegiate. He said, “It’s funny now that we’re on the same team in university, but we get along great.” Johnston said that they played well this season, but didn’t make the playoffs. Johnston’s favourite moment this season was playing at the Event Centre, because he plays in front of the whole school population and friends and people from the city who come to watch. “At West Hill you’re only playing in front of your mom and dad and maybe your best friend.’’ In his years of playing, the two people he looks up to and admires the most, are “my mom and my sister because they are the two hardest working people I know and they have taught me a lot.” He said Dawkins helped him out a lot as well. In five years Johnston sees himself graduating from business and playing basketball overseas. |
Kamesha Horne-Simmons
BEARCATS: Although only five hours away, Binghamton Bearcat forward Taylor Johnston is enjoying his time away from home.
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