Curley "Boo" Johnson
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Curley "Boo" Johnson (born February 10, 1965) is an American basketball player, best known as a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, an American exhibition basketball team.
Family
Born in Peoria, Illinois, Johnson is the son of Lorraine and Curley Johnson Sr. Johnson Sr. was the first black player to play basketball for Bradley University, leading them to a National Invitational Tournament championship in 1957.[1]
Early years
Curley "Boo" Johnson moved to Peoria, Illinois, in 1970 at age 4. He played for Sterling Grade School, coached by Robert Snowden, which landed a fourth-place finish in the city championships. Johnson also played tailback in football for Sterling Lions JFL when the team won an undefeated city championship.[1]
He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school at Richwoods High School for two years and then transferred to Peoria Central. While he was a member, Central's basketball team held a 38–18 record and received regional and sectional titles, and consecutive fourth-place finishes in the 1980 & 1981 Illinois State Classic Holiday Tournaments (now named the State Farm Holiday Classic).[1]
College years
Spoon River College 1982–83
Johnson scored 19 points in his first game against Richland College and led the state of Illinois and tied for seventh in the nation in field goal percentage, shooting a 65.7% record that still stands. SRC won the sectional title and set a school record for wins (26) and a 4th-place finish in the state. Johnson went 3 consecutive games without missing a field goal (21–21). He was named McDonald's Cage Classic all-tournament, all-section, all-region, and 4th team Sporting News NJCAA All-American.[1]
Muscatine Community College 1983–1984
Johnson played one season for the MCC Indians.
Loras College 1984–87
Johnson debuted at Loras by hitting a 20-foot fall-away jumper as time expired against archrival University of Dubuque, sending the game into overtime and giving Coach Mike Jaskulski his first college win. Mike Jaskulski was quoted as saying that Johnson was the finest ball handler and dribbler he ever coached or saw play at Loras. Johnson earned a degree in marketing. Loras retired Johnson's #14 jersey on December 10, 1999.[1]
Harlem Globetrotters
Johnson was discovered by Globetrotters general manager, Joe Anzivino, and invited to training camp in Los Angeles in fall 1988. He became the marquee dribbler and held that position for 18 consecutive seasons, from 1988 to 2007, playing 4,210 games. Johnson inherited the role of dribbling wizard made famous by Marques Haynes and "Curly" Neal and became known as "The World's Greatest Dribbler". He toured 81 countries on all seven continents. Johnson was part of the group that visited Pope John Paul II on November 29, 2000, in Rome. As a Globetrotter, he met Mother Teresa and South African president Nelson Mandela. Johnson was a member of the team that participated in the enshrinement ceremony when the Globetrotters were inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.[1]
Awards
- Harlem Globetrotters Team Captain Legacy Award 1996
- Mr. Globetrotter Award 1998, 1999
- Lora's College Jersey Number Retired 1999[2]
- Ambassador Award 1999
- Peoria High Sports Hall of Fame 2004
- Peoria Area Sports Hall of Fame 2007
- Peoria African American Hall of Fame 2007[3]
- Spoon River College Sports Hall of Fame 2010
- Lora's College Honorary Degree 2018[4]
Personal life
Johnson lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, with his wife, Michelle, and stepson, Troy.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Skills for Life
- ^ Skills for Life
- ^ "Johnson, Curley "Boo" (2019)". Basketball Museum of Illinois. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
- ^ Vlahos, Nick. "Nick in the AM: Ex-Globetrotter, ex-Peorian Curley 'Boo' Johnson to become a doctor". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
- ^ Facebook.com