Overtime With Juby Johnson
7/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 20, 2011
This is a continuation in a series of profiles on former Miami University men's basketball players who are currently or have recently played professional basketball. Today's feature is on Juby Johnson, a two-time All-MAC selection and the RedHawks' ninth all-time leading scorer.
 Juby Johnson spent his first five seasons in Croatia and helped his team to its first title in 19 seasons in his first season with KK Zadar.  | |
It has been just over seven years since Juby Johnson graced the hardwood of Millett Hall, and a lot has happened to the two-time All-MAC selection who started Miami's current string of eight consecutive years with at least one first-team honoree with his selection to the All-MAC First Team in 2004.
He spent five wonderful years in Croatia where he became an instant fan-favorite with KK Zadar. For nearly the last year and a half he has played with Gravelines-Dunkerque in France. During his time with KK Zadar he became a citizen of Croatia, and he currently holds dual citizenship in the United States and Croatia but is considered a European player so he is not competing with other Americans for spots on teams overseas since each team is allowed a limited number of American players.
Johnson married his wife Jontae, whom he adores and describes as a "superwoman." And the couple has given birth to two children in the last two years. First, a son in 2009 named Julius Jr. after Juby's given name. Then, a daughter named Chloe, who arrived the first day of October 2010.
After a five-year stint in Croatia where he helped KK Zadar to its first championship in 19 years in his first season with the team and followed with two more Croatian titles and four Adriatic Cup titles along with Defensive Player of the Year and Import Player of the Year honors to boot, Johnson received an offer he could not refuse from a team in the Ukraine.
A lot was changing in his life. His firstborn was on the way as he packed up and went overseas to a new team and a new country. He spent about two months with his team in the Ukraine before he needed to come back home as his son arrived over three months prematurely.
"He held on for six months," Johnson said. "He had eye surgery, heart surgery, stomach surgery ââ'¬Â¦ every type of surgery. Every surgery they (the doctors) said, 'He won't make it. He won't make it.' And every surgery he made it (through). Every surgery. I was home for maybe five months, and the doctors were (finally) saying he was getting better."
 Juby Johnson enters his eighth season as a professional basketball player and has played in France the last two seasons. | |
That's when Johnson signed a contract with a team in France and headed overseas with about two months left in the season to provide for his family with things at home finally beginning to settle down.
"That last month (of his life) was when I was overseas, which was when I went to France, and I wasn't able to leave right away. I ended up watching my son pass away in my wife's arms on Skype," Johnson quietly recalled. "I was on the next flight home to be with my wife."
Through tragedy, Johnson has found ways to put it all in perspective.
"It was tough, but it's made me stronger too," Johnson remarked. "If my son could go through all those surgeries with people saying he can't make it and holding on like he did, who am I to complain over a little injury. Every time something happens to me I think about what my son went through and know that I can get through too. I try to look at things like that.
"My wife ââ'¬Â¦ it was unbelievable what she did," he added. "Her energy was unbelievable. She was so strong. The way she was there for our son, she showed me the true definition of a mother. The way she cared for our son, it was remarkable what she did."
Johnson has spent most of his career in Croatia and has an affinity for the country and the people.
"I'm going to always go back (to Croatia) and visit, especially when I'm done playing," said Johnson. "That place is beautiful. That place has been great for me. I started my professional career there and I'm forever grateful for that country, that team, that organization. It's tough to get back now, but I'm going to definitely get back there."
In his time overseas Johnson said he has enjoyed learning different languages, seeing different countries when the team travels for games, learning about different cultures and just seeing how other people live.
"It's difficult to learn (different languages). In Croatia, the majority of people also speak English. It made it easy, but it also made it very hard to pick up the language because most everyone can speak English, so you weren't forced to speak it," said Johnson. "In France, you're going to be forced to speak French more. My wife speaks and understands a little French too, so that helps.
"I definitely enjoyed Athens, Greece," he added about the places he has enjoyed visiting. "I was in Valencia in Spain. Spain was very beautiful. France is really nice. Berlin, Germany I like that also. But for me, Croatia is number one."
Although his wife and daughter come overseas to live with him while he is there, Johnson has not had any other family come visit him.
"We get like four tickets to have people come over to visit, but my family is scared to fly," explained Johnson. "They are busy too, though."
When asked if he had gotten over his fear of flying Johnson laughed, "I still have it! I don't like to fly at all. They say it's the safest mode of travel, but I just hate flying period. What can I do? It's part of my job. I've just got to trust that God will take care of everything in the air."
 Juby Johnson is the RedHawks' ninth all-time leading scorer. | |
From his time at Miami, Johnson says his proudest moments were winning games.
"I remember the Notre Dame game (from his freshman year when Miami won at Notre Dame, 73-64) and the Temple game (also from his freshman year when Miami won in Millett Hall, 66-58)," recalled Johnson. "I didn't even play much in the Temple game but that crowd was unbelievable. I remember that game like it was yesterday. Winning big games and interacting with my teammates and coaches are what I remember most."
As for his professional career, Johnson and his teams have been very successful over the years.
"This is going on my eighth year this season overseas. I have three championships and four cup title championships (Adriatic Cup). Everywhere I've gone I've been blessed to be a winner on the pro level," said Johnson. "When I was in Croatia, we advanced to the championships all five years and won it three times. I also have a title in France.
"I've been blessed to play on a lot of the top teams over here (in Europe). If I'm averaging 10 or 11 points, that's great because our leading scorer is averaging maybe 13," he added. "When you're on a balanced team where the coach is playing everybody, it's not like someone is going to have to play 30 or 40 minutes. When you're on a bigger team you're going to play about 20 minutes a game and that's why you have the averages you do. Everybody is going to play and that's a good thing."
As for his future, Johnson has a plan in place and it all revolves around basketball.
"Honestly, I would like to play about five more years and then I would definitely like to go into coaching with my brothers," he said. "My brother, Sonny, has done great things at Garfield Heights (with the boys basketball program), and my younger brother, Demetrius, has his own business as a basketball trainer and he's doing great things too."
