St. Laurence’s Zerrick Johnson is the rare scoring leader whose signature style is defense.
The 6-foot-3 senior guard utilizes superb athleticism, quickness and ball pressure to pile up points off those instincts. And that elite defensive profile has been paying dividends for the Vikings.
“We have a lot of scorers, but every team needs that defensive guy,” he said. “Even if I’m not getting touches on the offensive end, I can get my buckets and points on the defensive end.
“I’m a hard-nosed, gritty guard who can make plays.”
Johnson made plays Tuesday night, scoring 13 points and coming up with several crucial defensive stops in a 75-65 victory over Mount Carmel in a Catholic League crossover in Chicago.
Senior point guard EJ Mosley made six 3-pointers in scoring 25 points for St. Laurence (18-5). Sophomore forward Markese Peoples added 10 of his 16 points in a 15-0 third-quarter run.
Senior forward Cameron Thomas posted a double-double with 26 points and 12 rebounds for the host Caravan (18-5). Senior guard Grant Best contributed 17 points and eight rebounds.
After Thomas cut a 15-point lead for the Vikings down to one possession late in the fourth quarter, Johnson turned a steal into a 3-point play. He punctuated the upset with a game-sealing dunk.
“I lost to them three out of my first years,” said Johnson, who also had six rebounds, four assists and four steals Tuesday. “This was my last chance, and I really didn’t want to lose to them.
“Now, I’ve put it all together, with my offense and defense, and the coaches believed in me.”
Johnson’s scoring output surpassed his season average of a team-best 11.5 points a game.
“He doesn’t get talked about nearly enough,” St. Laurence coach Roshawn Russell said. “He goes downhill, and he’s a load. He does a lot to spark us on both ends of the floor.
“He has a great attack mentality. Defensively, he can guard any position on the floor, so that’s a great advantage.”
While Mosley’s outside shooting prowess spreads the floor, that allows Johnson the opportunity to maneuver in space and optimize his athleticism.
“He’s a very unselfish player who always puts the team before him,” Mosley said of Johnson. “He does a great job of getting downhill and out on the floor.
“You saw what he is able to do, just taking over the game down the stretch.”
Johnson also plays with a flair and creative fury that reveal his wide-ranging interests. He likes fashion and plays the piano. He played in a band at the start of his high school career.
He gave that up only after he made the varsity basketball team as a freshman. He’s a four-year player and mainstay of the program.
“My dad and my aunt got me involved in the game since I was very little and I saw how much other people devoted their time into me,” Johnson said. “I had to be good at something.
“I found my passion and what I like and ran with it because everybody worked hard for me and my family. I had to do my part.”
Mount Carmel’s gym symbolizes the rise of St. Laurence’s program. The Vikings beat defending Class 4A state champion Homewood-Flossmoor there in December at the Team Rose Shootout.
The Caravan, a Class 3A Class 3A last season, were also swept aside by St. Laurence.
“We lost a lot of games my freshman year and a lot of people doubted us,” Johnson said. “I feel like my competitive nature has just really come over me the last couple of years.
“We have all of these fans who came from the north, the south or the far south side. They believe in us and we have to perform for them.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
