KNOXVILLE - Déjà vu, meet Jalen Johnson.
The 6-foot-5 Tennessee junior guard didn't immediately pick up the game of basketball, thus putting him behind once he did decide to start playing. His early experiences on the AAU circuit didn't include a ton of playing time, but at no point did he consider quitting.
Once he did receive an opportunity, he turned it into a number of high-major offers, including from the Volunteers, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Miami, Providence and South Carolina, among others.
He chose Tennessee, where for three seasons he has played sparingly in a backcourt that has featured recent NBA draftees Jordan Bone and Admiral Schofield as well as other double-digit-per-game scorers in Robert Hubbs III and current seniors Jordan Bowden and Lamonte Turner.
"I just kept working, kept working, kept working, then eventually my time came, I took advantage of it and I got to Tennessee," Johnson said Friday at the Vols' media day at Pratt Pavilion. "When I got here, it was kind of the same thing - just reset - but I stayed and kept working. I wasn't going to quit because I don't quit.
"It was challenging, but the teammates I had ahead of me kind of helped me with that. To see them put in the work and get the results they got and the chance to achieve their dream, seeing that was a joy for me, too."
Now that Bone and Schofield are gone, there's an opportunity for Johnson.
Is he ready to take advantage of it?
"I'm constantly aware of that," Johnson said. "With my time here, I've always been told to 'Wait your turn' - 'Stay ready, your time is coming' - and I'm obviously aware of that. This offseason I wanted to be able to attack different areas of my game, such as my weightlifting, shooting, defense. I'm always aware and I've tried to improve so when my time comes, I can showcase what I've been putting in."
AP photo by Wade Payne / Tennessee guard Jalen Johnson (13), forward Yves Pons (35) and guard Jordan Bone (0) react to a 3-point shot by guard Brad Woodson during the second half of a home game against Mississippi State in March.Shooting is Johnson's primary asset. The skilled left-hander has made 20 shots in his college career; 12 are 3-pointers. He shot 45% from long range in limited attempts last season, but coach Rick Barnes has been hesitant to make him a regular part of the rotation due to some defensive lapses.
Johnson said he spent a good portion of the summer working with Tennessee strength coach Garrett Medenwald on his lateral quickness, defensive slides and footwork while also spending time working on his defensive principles and awareness.
There isn't a lot returning for the Vols in terms of production, meaning there will be a chance for Johnson to get in the action. Barnes said Friday he needs players such as Johnson and fellow juniors John Fulkerson and Yves Pons to fill that role while the team brings along the younger players.
Johnson said he's ready.
"I want to play more than I have in past seasons here," he said. "I just want to be solid, be able to bring something to the table every day and be consistent, not just a one-trick pony. I want to do all things - make shots but finish some in transition, rebound, a steal here, a block there, a deflection - just be an all-around player. I want to focus on that role and be able to expand on it if called to do so.
"If you keep working and stay with it, your time will come. When your time comes, you have to take advantage of it, so it's been that kind of concept for me. I'm not trying to abandon ship. I've never been that way, so people have tried to tell me to do that, so I've always stuck with it and here I am."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.