Distributor adding another dimension

There was never any doubt Chaz Johnson would play basketball, even though there was wrestling in his heritage.

His uncles, Mark and Mike Kondo, were wrestling state champions at Rogers in the late 1960s. But his dad, Bruce, also a Pirate and the longtime Community Colleges of Spokane women’s coach, was all about basketball.

Although a knee injury cost him his senior season on one of the Pirates’ best teams, Bruce played collegiately and for five years in Australia before turning to coaching. Chaz’s affinity for the sport was uncoerced but came naturally.

“Wrestling wasn’t the same as basketball,” Chaz said. “I’ve always played basketball for as long as I can remember.”

Mt. Spokane’s floor leader begins his senior Greater Spokane League season this week as one of the top returning players and arguably its best point guard. Sadly, he’ll do so without one of his biggest boosters in the stands. Grandfather Mark Kondo Sr. died at age 90 in October.

“My grandpa influenced me a lot,” Chaz said. “He experienced so much and did so many things that impacted me big time.”

Last year the Wildcats qualified for 3A state and Chaz broke their season assists record with 158. He also surpassed co-leaders Joel Clark and Zach Bursch as career leader.

“Joel Clark and Zach Bursch tied with 189 for their careers,” said coach Bill Ayers, marveling at the comparison. “Chaz has 191 with a year left.”

Gonzaga Prep enters the season with nearly its entire team intact and the odds-on favorite to succeed four-time league champion and two-time state titlist Ferris among GSL boys. State veteran Shadle Park, now 3A like Mt. Spokane, is the likeliest challenger. After that, coaches say you can throw a blanket over a bunch of teams.

“We play in a tough league,” Shadle Park coach Tim Gaebe said. “I don’t care if you’re going to Washington State or Grays Harbor Community College, with the standard that has been set in this league you better show up every night.”

Chaz Johnson is one of those standard-bearers, even more this season than last when he was dishing off to two prolific scorers. If the Wildcats return to state, the 5-foot-11 scooter will have upped the ante because of his ability to score. His dad said that in one fall league game, Chaz scored 45 points.

He has impressed opposing coaches.

“He is a player,” North Central coach Jay Webber said. “I really like him and wish I had him. But I won’t like him during the season.”

University coach Garrick Phillips said Johnson’s biggest attribute is his basketball intellect.

“He knows where to get the ball, when to shoot and never turns it over,” Phillips said.

Although the son of a basketball coach, Chaz said his influences have been varied. Bruce pointed out he never coached his son, offering advice only when asked.

“One thing I’ve never done is pressure any of my children to play,” he said. “I wanted to be a dad in the stands.”

Chaz, however, mirrors his dad’s up-tempo style at Rogers before tearing up his knee. He said he likes the fast break and a pressure style of game. Ayers said that with his point guard in control, it will be more typical of the Wildcats this season.

“He’s a throw-back point guard, a great leader who truly makes everyone else better,” Ayers said. “He can score, but he likes making a good pass. What amazes me is he knows who should get the ball and when they should get it. And being a coach’s kid, he’s like being a coach on the court.”

A broken wrist near the growth plate in eighth grade hampered Chaz’s development as a shooter.

“He couldn’t bend it properly, although this summer he’s developed a ton,” Bruce said. “My personal opinion is he still shoots a little flat.”

Chaz said his range has improved and he expects to have the ball in his hands more this season as a scoring threat. If two people sag on him, he added, it only means some other Wildcat will get a shooting opportunity.

His athleticism and quickness, his dad said, comes from the Kondo uncles – “which is a blessing. He’s more athletic than me by far” – even if Bruce was good enough to play at Yankton, an NAIA college in South Dakota, and professionally in Australia.

Although his quickness and anticipation are what make Chaz successful in basketball, if Mt. Spokane is to succeed in the GSL, look for him to improve substantially on last year’s 6.5 ppg scoring average.