Montana St. will honor Johnson’s scholarship

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Dec. 17, 2001 | 10:18 a.m.

His basketball future may be uncertain, but Martrel Johnson can still bank on a full athletic scholarship to college.

The Durango star forward, who has been diagnosed with kidney failure and must undergo a transplant, said Montana State coaches have assured him the school will honor its scholarship commitment.

"They told me to stay strong and said I've got my scholarship," Johnson said. "They're behind me 100 percent."

Durango coach Al LaRocque received the same assurances from Bobcats coaches.

"They're going to honor it all the way, which shows a lot of class on their part," LaRocque said. "And it's possible he could redshirt his first year and be back on the court in two years."

Johnson, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior playing his fourth season of varsity basketball for the Trailblazers, went in for tests last week after Durango coaches and his mother, Cheryl, noticed him laboring in a game against Cimarron-Memorial High School.

Doctors first detected high blood pressure, then further tests revealed Johnson's kidneys had not been functioning properly, possibly for a lengthy period of time.

After six nights at Valley Hospital, he is scheduled to return home today, and will continue to undergo dialysis treatments while he waits for a transplant.

"It was a shock to me, but it's just another problem for me to overcome," Johnson said. "I know I'm going to get through it."

Cheryl Johnson said that her blood type matches that of her son, and that she will soon learn if she is a potential kidney donor. Martrel Johnson will also be placed on a donor list.

"He's never sick, so it was a big shock to me," Cheryl Johnson said. "They said the sooner (he gets the transplant), the better."

A member of the Sun's all-state first team after leading the Trailblazers to the state finals as a sophomore and a second team selection a year ago, Johnson averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds over Durango's first five games this year.

LaRocque said he informed the squad Johnson would not be back this season on Saturday.

"It was really tough on our kids. They were very somber, very quiet," LaRocque said. "They want to dedicate the season to Martrel, and great responsibility comes with that."

The Durango coach added that the past week has also been tough for him personally. "He's like my son," LaRocque said. "I'm very hard on him at times, but that's because we have the highest of goals for him."

Johnson said he intends to return to the court, in college if not this season. In 2000, the NBA's Sean Elliott came back from kidney transplant surgery in less than one year.

"I'd like to play after the surgery, and I'm planning to play for a long time," Johnson said.

Johnson gave thanks for the outpouring of support he has received from Durango students, administrators and teachers, and from students from other area high schools who have stopped by the hospital to wish him well.

"People have shown me so much support, including some people I wouldn't have expected to see here," Johnson said. "I show people a lot of respect, and I got it back from them."

Cheryl Johnson said she hopes that Nevada will amend new rules regarding physical examinations for high school athletes.

Beginning this year, physicals are only required once during a student's four-year career. After their initial physicals, athletes update records by answering a series of questions on a form, indicating any recent injuries or changes in health.

"I would like it to be every year and make it mandatory to have bloodwork done with each physical," Cheryl Johnson said.