The Western Kentucky forward rejoined the school’s basketball team two days before it left on its preseason trip to the Central American nation. He’d spent the previous four-plus months both working out with the football team and rehabbing a knee injury.
Johnson was still productive in the Hilltoppers’ thee wins on the Costa Rica trip. He averaged 18.3 points and 10 rebounds per game and shot 70 percent from the floor.
But Johnson was a long way away from peak basketball shape. His plan following the Aug. 7-14 trip was to spend the next two months getting his body right in preparation for his senior season.