Devils Illustrated - Senior sendoff: Patrick Johnson

April 2, 2006

Randall Thomason
Devils Illustrated Staff

Every player on a basketball team has a valuable role. The media often flocks to the players whose main role is scoring, rebounding, or playing stellar defense.

Just as valuable to the whole fabric of a team though are the guys who very rarely get any ink, the guys who sit patiently at the end of the bench each game after fighting hard on the practice floor to help prepare their teammates for the next opponent.

Duke says goodbye to two such players as the Blue Devils move on from the 2005-06 season.

Patrick Johnson became a beloved substitute during his four year career at Duke. The 6-foot-9 post didn't even play high school basketball, yet walked on at Duke and was given a scholarship prior to his junior season in 2004-05.

It was that season when Johnson often provided Duke valuable minutes when a very thin roster often caused Coach K to turn to his bench and see very little reliable help.

Johnson appeared in 22 games as a junior, including his best performance of two points, six rebounds, and three assists in 10 minutes of action against Virginia Tech at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

In seven of those 22 appearances, Johnson logged five or more minutes, proving that he wasn't always playing just mop up duty.

In his senior campaign, Johnson's minutes and appearances declined as depth was less of an issue in the post in 05-06. However, the senior from Atlanta still appeared in 13 games, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field in those outings, and occasionally was inserted into the game ahead of more physically talented freshmen.

His career high of two blocks came against Princeton on Jan. 5, 2005.

A talented baseball player in high school, Johnson hopes to have a future as a business owner.

Not to be forgotten, walk on Ross Perkins also made valuable contributions to Duke basketball. He lived the dream of many, going from team manager to player when he joined the squad prior to the 2004-05 season as a junior.

Perkins appeared in five games as a junior but did not get into the scoring column.

The 6-4 guard from Greensboro ended his career with exactly three points, which came on a memorable three point basket that came in Duke's non-conference win over Bucknell this season.

A talented individual, Perkins earned a role in a Duke production of 'West Side Story' as a senior. Both of his parents and his older brother are Duke graduates. Perkins aspires to a career in finance.

Devils Illustrated's senior sendoff series will continue throughout the week.

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