Ahead of our Men’s 1st team game this evening vs Northumbria University. Kieran Howell caught up with University of Worcester Alumni Daniel Johnson-Thompson, to find out how life is after Worcester.
KH “How’s life and what’s It like up North?
DJT “Yeah I’m doing great. Life up north is good, the city is beautiful. Obviously, Newcastle is bigger then what I’m used to. Having two universities in close contact with each other and the abundance of young people/students around is nice.”
KH “From all the memories of being at Worcester, which one sticks out the most?“
DJT “The biggest memory for me would probably be when the BUCS 1st team won the Division 1 Cup and got promoted back up to BUCS Prem. I remember that season being intense and at times down to the wire…..but in the end we got it done.”
KH “What’s the one thing you miss about being in Worcester?”
DJT “My friends for sure. I made so many friends both on and off the court. Even down to the guys who worked around the arena or in the cafeteria. These guys were really nice people. They didn’t have to be nice to me but they showed me love and for that I am grateful.”
“Daniel is a perfect ambassador for what we’re trying to create here at Northumbria. He’s a model student athlete and great young man! He’s developing well at the Eagles and Coach Macleod sees him as a future piece that they are investing in. We’re looking to mould him to carry on the torch from Darius Defoe a few years down the line” says Northumbria Coach and former Newcastle Eagles player Drew Lasker
KH “You’ve spent a good chunk of time at the University including training and competing with the Worcester Wolves, If you could go back and do it all again what one piece of advice would you give yourself?“
DJT “I’d probably tell myself to do A LOT more rehabilitation work, especially had I known how much I would be playing up North. One more piece of advice would be to be more fearless on the court and really put myself out there especially within the BBL. Fearless not in a bad way of course but when you receive the ball have the confidence to read and react to the situation in front of you and take advantages when they appear.”
KH “You were required to put a lot of work in both on and off the court. When off the court, what do you like to do to wind down and relax?”
DJT “I’m a big gamer, as most kids who grew up in my generation are. I play all kinds of games from FIFA, Call of Duty and Fortnite….not trying to boast but am pretty nasty on the sticks. I remember vividly finishing my lectures, practise and S+C training in a day, and with that little bit of energy I had left, just going to game with the boys. I wouldn’t say I was addicted but once all my jobs are ticked off for the day are done, theirs only one thing on my mind.”
KH “Unfortunately in tonight’s game you’ll be on the opposing side but how are you looking forward to coming back to Worcester?”
DJT “I’m actually really looking forward to coming back to Worcester to play and see all my friends and Coach Blake even if it means I have to drop a few buckets on everyone….No but for real Tonight should be a great game full of energy and excitement. For sure I’ll be smiling throughout but ultimately I’m looking for the win so all hands of deck when tip off comes around.”
KH “I think now its safe to call yourself a full-time professional basketball player. You had good minutes last year under Coach Newby with the Wolves and now with the Newcastle Eagles. What is one thing that is everything you thought it would be about the business of Basketball and one thing that sort of brings you back to reality, a harsh truth even?
DJT “I always have the mentality of not being an underdog per say but more of being a realist. I am under no illusion that right now I’m closer to being a professional then I was yesterday, but my journey is still a long one and I’m taking it one step at a time. At the minute I understand my minutes are coming from injuries and covid related issues but I’m trying to take full advantage of them. I look forward to the day when I can earn my own minutes without them being related to injuries or other barriers.”
I think for me the fans and support you receive as a professional is everything I dreamed of. People asking for signatures/pictures or just people saying great game on the weekend. The harsh reality for me is the unpredictability of of the sport and business. For example I played little minutes at the beginning of the season and now I’m practically playing 35+ minutes which is a quick turn around and if your not ready for that then you learn very quickly that you’re playing with the best of the best within this country which can be intimidating for some.
I’m full aware that there are a limited amount of roster spots on a limited amount of teams within the league so competing and working hard enough this year is directly going to effect what happens next year. The harsh reality is that not everyone is going to make it but I believe am putting myself in the brightest of lights to do so.”
Tonights game tips off at 8pm Sport Central. Daniel returns to Worcester for the first time with his new teammates on Wednesday 1st December
