Interview with Hikee Johnson
Hikee Johnson took time out from studying to speak with SN. The 6'2", 190 lb. senior who runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds has been committed to Virginia since late September. Since that time, he's been playing as though he didn't have a worry in the world. A PrepStar All-Region selection, Hikee needs only 1,400 yards this season to reach 4,000 for his career - and he's well on his way. In addition, Hikee's North Penn High School team remains undefeated through 7 games this year, and it seems that Hikee's goals are all within reach.
SN: What's going on - anything good?
HJ: Well, we're 6-0 right now, and we've got a big game tomorrow against Council Rock; that's pretty much the only thing that's going on with me right now.
SN: Have you talked to Rich Bedesem [another UVA commitment] from Council Rock?
HJ: No, I haven't talked to him. I'll probably talk to him tomorrow after the game.
SN: I know you had a big game a couple weeks ago, with 6 touchdowns in the first half -
HJ: Yeah, that was against Abington. I didn't play in the second half.
SN: Have you been to any UVA games this year?
HJ: No, I couldn't make the last one. I was supposed to go down, but I had to work. I plan on going to the Florida State game on October 30th.
SN: When did UVA start recruiting you?
HJ: Well, they came in kind of late, during the beginning of August. I took a trip down there, and I liked it better than all the other schools I visited. The academics were better, so I decided to go with them.
SN: What other schools had you visited?
HJ: Prior to UVA, I went to Rutgers, Maryland, and West Virginia.
SN: Have those schools - or others - still been in contact or trying to recruit you?
HJ: Not really. I still get letters from a lot of schools, but, as far as personal contact, I haven't spoken with anyone else.
SN: What did you do when you made your visit to UVA? What were the things that stood out to you?
HJ: First of all, the car ride down there - distance from home was very important to me, and it's not the closest but it's just far enough away. That was the first thing, and when I got there, I mean, I looked around, and it was the most beautiful place I'd ever seen. The buildings, the whole scene.
SN: Who toured you around campus?
HJ: Coach [Bob] Price gave me a tour around.
SN: Who visited UVA with you?
HJ: Coach [Mike] Pettine did [North Penn High School Head Football Coach].
SN: Did you spend some time with Coach Welsh?
HJ: Yeah, I did. I talked to him for a little bit. He's not a real talkative kind of guy, but we chatted for a little bit.
SN: Did you talk to any of the other offensive coaches?
HJ: Yeah I spoke with Coach Tranquill. He was in a meeting with [Dan] Ellis at the time, so we didn't get to talk for a real long time.
SN: Do you know any current UVA players?
HJ: I know Ben Carber. He and I used to play on the same team in 8th grade.
SN: Must have been a pretty good team.
HJ: Yeah, we were 8-0 that year, at Pennfield Middle School.
SN: What were the factors that were most important to you in making your decision - academics, proximity to home, the team rosters?
HJ: Distance from home, academics, and when I looked at the roster… when I get there, I think there will be 9 or 10 running backs either in my class or already there. If I go down there and I play well, maybe I'll be able to move up on the depth chart.
SN: Are you looking forward to the competition?
HJ: Yes, that's what college football is all about. You're going to have to be better than the next guy; I think I'm ready to face that challenge, and hopefully I'll be able to do whatever I can do to contribute.
SN: Was the style of offense a consideration for you?
HJ: Yes, I wanted to go to a program where they use the running back. Virginia does that, and so do most of the teams I visited; they like to run the ball.
SN: How strong are you academically? Have you taken the SAT yet?
HJ: I maintain B's and C's pretty much. I've taken the SAT, and I didn't fare too well, but I'm taking it again the next time it's offered.
SN: Do you have a good relationship with Coach Price?
HJ: Yeah, we talk on the phone. We talked twice last week. Sometimes I call him up to see what's going on.
SN: So North Penn H.S. is undefeated, and you are having a nice year individually. What are your goals for the team and yourself?
HJ: Basically, my personal goals are team goals. I want to help my team in our quest to get a state championship. Whatever personal goals our offense or I might reach - it's all part of trying to put W's on the board. Academically, I like to do well in school. I'm going to try my hardest to do well. I hope to actually make the honor roll. Besides that, football and academics are the two biggest things in my life right now.
SN: Are you going to play other sports?
HJ: I play basketball. I'm shooting guard, point guard. We run a wide-open offense, so there aren't really positions - like the Princeton offense. You're in a different spot every time.
SN: What about the other members of your team - who's looking to play at the next level?
HJ: Chris McKelvey - he's off to Penn State next fall. Aaron Thomas, UVA's looking at him pretty well. He really wants to go to school there. He keeps telling me 'it's my dream school. I'd love to go there and play,' and I think they're liking him a little bit, so we'll see.
SN: Is that something you'd hope for, you and Aaron…
HJ: Oh definitely, to have a teammate of mine down there, that'd be great. We would room together, I wouldn't feel so far away from home if I had someone there to ease the transition.
SN: What type of player is Aaron?
HJ: He's our all-purpose back - he mostly plays wingback or wide receiver. Sometimes he comes in and gives me a breather at running back.
SN: What other schools are looking at him right now?
HJ: I believe Rhode Island, Boston College, and some others.
SN: Do you play a sport in the spring?
HJ: I run track in the spring. I took a year off last year just to get bigger and stronger, but this year I plan to go back out and work on my speed.
SN: Have you thought at all about defense?
HJ: Virginia's recruiting me as a running back, but if it doesn't work out well for me there, I'm willing to go over to the defensive side of the ball. Anywhere I can get in and contribute.
SN: What are your expectations for next year - how do you feel about redshirting?
HJ: We haven't really gotten in to specifics like that. What I think we're going to do is I'll get a look first, and then we'll make a decision.
SN: Do you have your heart set on playing immediately?
HJ: No, I'm just going to take it as it comes. I'd like to get that extra year in academically, but whatever happens…
SN: So, how do you describe yourself to someone who's never met you?
HJ: Laid back, mellow, and soft-spoken.
SN: On the football field?
HJ: Intense. Frantic, maybe.
SN: I'm sure you heard that Virginia lost to Duke; does it hurt to see UVA struggle having already made a commitment? How do you feel about the team?
HJ: All teams struggle, you know? They're just having a bad time right now, and I'm really looking forward to going down there and seeing if I can contribute right away. Hopefully I can, but if not, I'll wait my turn, and hopefully we'll be successful.
SN: You were looking at four good schools - Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia, and Virginia. What set UVA apart?
HJ: The big things were academics and football. Football was good, and so were academics. The academics were better than the rest of the schools had to offer me that were close. I had no choice but to choose UVA.
SN: Were the other schools recruiting you earlier than UVA?
HJ: Yeah, my first offer came from Boston College, but that was way too far away for me.
SN: You didn't consider them seriously because of distance?
HJ: At first I looked in to them because I didn't think I was going to be a serious, big-time Division IA recruit. I got more offers, though. Maryland was next, then Rutgers, Wisconsin, they just all kept coming in, so I was pretty 'wowed.'
SN: When did you realize that you were going to have some great options for college?
HJ: I think it was after I got the Maryland offer, because it was my 3rd or 4th. I took a trip down there, and I was really stuck on going there. I liked it. The campus was beautiful, and there were so many people there. It was really close to Virginia, in comparison. When Maryland came in, I was set on them, but then Virginia came in. When I took a look down there, I just fell in love with the place.
SN: What did that feel like - you must have been very excited throughout?
HJ: Yeah. I tried not to get too big of a head about it, because kids in the school are like, 'wow, you're so lucky, you're going to school for free' and what have you. I was trying to be level headed about it, but it felt good. It felt really good.
SN: No doubts for you and your commitment?
HJ: No.
SN: Are you close to your family, is that why proximity to home was so important for you?
HJ: Yeah, I want my Mom and my brother to be able come out an see me play. Plus, coming home during the breaks, and stuff, I want to be able to do that.
SN: Is your brother younger or older?
HJ: He's younger.
SN: Is he a better athlete than you or no?
HJ: Nah. He's good, but not that good [laughs].
Chris MacAulay, The Sabre, October 19th, 1999