Getting to Know... Johnny Juzang
October 29, 2020 | Men's Basketball
The 11th installment of "Getting to Knowโฆ" features Johnny Juzang, a sophomore on the men's basketball team. Juzang graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in 2019 and spent the 2019-20 school year as a freshman at the University of Kentucky. He has transferred to UCLA and looks ahead to his first full season with the Bruins in Westwood.
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Q: After deciding to transfer to UCLA in April (having spent your freshman season at Kentucky), what was the uncertainty like for you back in April, especially with the state of the pandemic at that time?
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A: Obviously, I wanted to play because I was super excited to get started. I was really excited more to practice than to play. I wanted to start practicing with the team and kind of just get things going and get the ball rolling. I was hoping that maybe by June we would get going. It was definitely weird because the wait kept getting longer and longer, but fortunately I was able to get a lot of really good training in. I didn't lose too much of a beat, as far as being in the gym. But yeah, it was kind of funny because we would have certain dates of when we thought we were going back, as far as conditioning. I probably had three conditioning trials for probably two to three weeks, each of heavy conditioning before getting back. Then it would get pushed back again. So I probably did that three or four times, where I went through heavy conditioning training for a couple week periods, but luckily we got to come back around five weeks ago.
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Q: Can you walk us through what was going through your mind when you received the news that you would have immediate eligibility late May?
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A: Oh my gosh, I think we went to dinner that night and ate somewhere really nice. It was such a good feeling. I was so excited when I got the news from Coach Cronin and Erin Adkins from compliance. And obviously, the alternative is just so tough having to sit out a year. I'm extremely lucky that I didn't have to face that alternative. I was so excited when I found out, and I got a lot of really nice messages from people, so it was great to feel supported.
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Q: There was some ambiguity in the summer as to when the season would start. What's it like now knowing you're one month away from the season opener?
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A: It's so exciting, especially with everyone's season getting cut short last year. Being able to put the uniform on, getting to play for coach, and getting to play with the guys, I'm just super excited. Especially because once you get to college, you have one season each year. It's not like high school where you play your high school season, then AAU season where you're playing games on games on games. I just love playing basketball, so being able to play and have pretty much a full season is super exciting. I know at first, the date for the new season was going to be January. Even when I heard that, I was disappointed, but I was also just happy that we were going to be able to play. Then when they told us that it was going to be November, it was like a cherry on top, getting the full season and non-conference games. I'm super happy with the way it all played out.
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Q: Growing up in the area, how does it feel to be at a school so close to home?
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A: It feels great. I've been to a lot of UCLA games over the years. Playing in Pauley Pavilion and playing in the uniform is going to be really awesome because I've been around it so much. UCLA isn't just a program. We have such a great coaching staff and such great guys on the team. It's not just because it's a legacy โ I came here because this program is so great, and the legacy was just a cherry on top. But it's super exciting to be here in LA. I go home probably a couple times a week. My sister is home because she's taking a gap year, so I'm able to see my family and just hang out with my sister all the time. For games, so many people I know and have grown up with can watch the games. Hopefully come season, they're able to come in person a little bit, but if not, I know there's still support close by.
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Q: Although you're new to UCLA's team, you've already had a year under your belt. What was it about UCLA's program that drew you to become a Bruin, and how do you see yourself fitting in the Bruin lineup?
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A: I really liked where the program was headed with Coach Cronin and what the players and the team did coming together last year. That was huge. I think being part of a winning program is really important, so seeing that was huge. I really liked what Coach Cronin was doing with the team, and the conversations I had with him were another huge factor. I watched a lot of their style of play and kind of just put all of the factors together. It seemed like a great fit. Secondly, for my impact for this year, I definitely had a great year of experience last year, so this year I feel pretty ready to make an impact in as many ways as possible. Being able to bring experience from somewhere else, playing in a big program and different conference and a little bit of a different style of play, so that different experience, viewpoint of the game, and technique are things I hope to contribute. I feel pretty ready to make an impact, and I'm just ready to play with the guys and win basketball games.
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Q: Players like Jake Kyman and David Singleton both proved they can shoot well from 3-point range last season. How can you help add to UCLA's perimeter shooting this year?
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A: I feel like every year I'm constantly working on adding more elements to my game, but one of the best things I do is shooting. I'll definitely help in that aspect for sure. But I also hope to bring other stuff like playing hard, playing defense, communicating, being a leader, bringing energy, and just bringing a winning mentality and spirit. I think shooting will just come, and I think it'll help the team with having another guy who can space the floor. Don't get me wrong, I hope to make an impact in that sector, but I also feel like shooting isn't the only thing I want to make an impact in.
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Q: Now that you've been in Westwood for over a month, what are your relationships like with your teammates, both on and off the court?
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A: It's been great just hanging out with the guys. I love the guys. Mostly, we can only hang out with each other because of the pandemic. Since we're safe about it and we're able to get tested, that's who I mainly spend my time with. Hanging out off the court has been great. On the court, it's been really good too. Being able to talk to guys on the court and breaking things down to see what certain guys think about something and what other guys think about something, so kind of picking each other's brains has been really awesome. I've been able to adjust and understand what some of the big principles are and some of the big focal points. The guys have been great walking me through some of that. In that first week or so, they showed me the ropes to help me adjust and speed that process up. Now, it's cool to see guys that played in the program last year with Coach Cronin picking each other's brains and just making each other better on the court.
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Q: After reclassifying in high school and graduating in three years, how important was it for you to equally prioritize both your education and basketball throughout your collegiate career?
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A: It's been pretty important for me. Both programs have had great resources to help with that stuff, so I've been pretty blessed in that regard. But yeah, it's important. I'm always going to be straightforward โ basketball is my passion, and this is what I want to do. It's my main focus in life and I really do love it. But yeah, school has always been something that's been extremely important in my family and with me as well. I've always made sure to stay focused in school and try to excel in that aspect of my college experience.
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Q: Was there a professional athlete you grew up admiring or modeling your game after? What was it about the athlete that drew you to them?
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I would say in recent years, I've watched the NBA as a whole and I've taken a lot of bits and pieces from a lot of different players, as well as my trainer. Sometimes I'm taking stuff from players, but I don't even know if I'm taking it from them because I'm learning it through my trainer. But definitely the biggest basketball role model for me growing up was Kobe Bryant. Skill-wise and mentality-wise, he's had the biggest impact on me as a basketball player. Also, another athlete that I love is Conor McGregor. I love his mentality, and I've watched and listened to a lot of the stuff he's had to say. So surprisingly, a UFC fighter has actually had a huge impact on me.
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| Favorite thing to do outside of basketball? | Hanging out with friends |
| If you could live anywhere, where would it be? | On a ranch in Colorado |
| Favorite music artist? | Swae Lee |
| Favorite movie? | Avatar |
| What is your pregame ritual, if you have one? | Not listening to music and being present |
| Favorite professional team to follow? | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Why UCLA? | Great school, great program, and I've always loved it. |
Previous "Getting to Know..." Publications
Obi Eboh โ Football
Carlie Dorostkar โ Cross Country/Track & Field
Sam Feit โ Men's Tennis
Sam Baron โ Swimming and Diving
Kengo Aoshima โ Men's Golf
Aislynn Crowder โ Women's Soccer
Kevin Diaz โ Men's Soccer
Frida Esparza โ Gymnastics
DJ Lawson โ Cross Country/Track & Field
Emily Bessoir โ Women's Basketball
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