The pain Preston Johnson felt while laid out on the turf at North Central’s football stadium last week was excruciating.
The Zionsville senior receiver ran a post route during the 1-on-1 portion of drills prior to the Eagles’ summer scrimmage with North Central on July 22. On his third rep, nearing the end of the position period, he beat the North Central defensive back off the line and sprinted up the field. Out of his break, Johnson turned for the pass and went up to snag the ball out of the air.
For the record, he caught it. But as Johnson’s left foot hit the turf, everything changed.
“I knew it was broken,” Johnson said, “from the way it was slanted.”
The doctor later compared the injury to something he would see from a motorcycle accident, not a sports injury. Johnson suffered a trimalleolar ankle fracture, a severe break involving the outer ankle, inner ankle and back of the shinbone.
Essentially, he broke his ankle in three places.
The pain was intense, though Johnson could not feel much of anything physically. The pain emanated from different place. He thought of all of the work he had done in preparation for a senior year in football and basketball. This was supposed to be a special year.
“I’ve never felt that way before,” Johnson said. “Just the realization of it and that I couldn’t move. The emotions started right away. I started thinking about the football season that was ahead of me and how I’d worked super hard in the summer in both sports … I knew I wasn’t going to be able play the first couple weeks and then eventually they told me I wouldn’t be able to play any games.”
Zionsville coach Scott Turnquist talked to Johnson as he prepared to be taken away on an ambulance. Johnson’s mind wandered to that first home game, “Neon Night” against Lawrence Central in Week 2. He was looking forward to playing in front of the big student crowd as a senior, taking on a bigger role than he had as a junior.
All of that, gone in an instant. How do you fight that “life is unfair” feeling?
“A lot of what’s got me through is friends coming over and sitting on the couch with me and talking,” he said. “And all the texts I’ve received from friends and coaches telling me to keep my head up and saying prayers for me gives me the knowledge that I have the support from my school and my community.”
Some days are better than others. Johnson had one surgery last week and has another scheduled for Friday.
“It’s definitely up and down,” he said. “I’m very appreciative when people come and visit but when it’s nighttime or morning, it’s depressing to think how I could be on my feet or going to practice.”
The texts and visits help. Coaches like Dylan Gandy, Tony Meyer and John Mundil are among the many that have sent heartfelt messages to Johnson. Mundil shared that in his nearly 20 years of coaching that he had never been around a better young man and teammate.
In the back of Johnson’s mind is basketball season. When he is able to get on crutches and moving around again, he plans to attend football practices and be a positive influence on the team. He realizes there is an extensive rehabilitation process ahead. Playing football this season is out of the question.
But basketball? Maybe.
“Playing Indiana high school basketball means the world to me,” Johnson said. “Getting back to playing is what I want the most.”
Johnson, the son of Jeremiah and Alisha Johnson, has been playing basketball almost his entire life. His father, the sideline reporter for the Pacers for many years, played basketball at Peru and introduced Preston to high school basketball at a young age. Last year, as a junior, Johnson broke through as a key player for the Eagles, averaging 4.6 points and 4.2 rebounds.
After a strong spring and summer for the Legacy Ice Elite team coached by Isaac Loechle, Johnson had started to attract some college interest, earning an offer from DePauw. He played in his last AAU tournament the weekend prior to the injury, helping his team to a 30-5 record and making some lifelong friends.
“It was honestly the best AAU season I ever had,” he said. “Having a team that just plays the right way and doesn’t play the normal AAU basketball style was great. I just locked in with my teammates. They were really unselfish, great guys.”
Johnson hoped to carry that momentum into his senior season, playing for new coach Andy Weaver. The Eagles were 13-11 last season and will have high expectations with several core players returning.
Johnson still plans to be one of them – if at all possible. He knows there are other kids out there going through the same thing. It happens in sports, unfair as it may seem.
“The biggest thing I’d tell them – although it’s a confusing thing to have happen – is just to trust that it’s all part of God’s plan,” he said. “I’m a pretty religious person. I believe things happen for a reason. I think God gives his toughest battles to the toughest people. I know I have my family, coaches and friends praying for me. I think it’s all going to work out.”
With that attitude, it certainly will.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: In an instant, his season was wiped away. But Preston Johnson stays positive
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
