2015

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New Hope standout Johnson signs with East Tennessee State

May 21, 201511:16:05 PM

It's hard to be patient when you're traveling trying to find the right fit.

But after waiting most of the school year to secure a score on the ACT that helped him become eligible to play Division I basketball, Shemar Johnson didn't mind researching and examining schools to make sure he found the right fit.

The only trouble is Johnson achie;-ed his eligibility at such a late date that a number of school that were interested in him already had mo,·ed on.

When you have as much potential as Johnson, though, there are going to be plenty of schools waiting to see if they can land a sleeper.

On Thursday, New Hope High's J ohnson helped East Tennessee State University become the school that earned that distinction when he signed a National Letter of Intent to play for new men's basketball coach Steve Forbes at the Dhision I school in Johnson City, Tennessee.

"I feel real good," Johnson said. "It is a good feeling. I can't explain it.

"I have been working for this all my life, this and the NBA."

Johnson said he visited Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, ETSU, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. He said he also had planed to 'isit Utah State and Cent ral Florida, but he decided against it.

Johnson said the final decision proved to be difficult. The number of phone calls and text messages he and his family received combined with the pressure of the choice made it easy for

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APPEARED IN:

CARTHAGINIAN - --- ----- NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL ---- SPIRIT OF MORTON ---------- MERIDIAN STAR - --- ---- - o +he v _L_

NESHOBA DEMOCRAT ---- - - SCOTT COUNTY TIMES ------ WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL --- CLARION-LEDGER ---- ----