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Dynamite Duo: Grooms and Johnson
Form Formidable 1-2 Punch for Vikings.
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By MICHAEL JOHNSON
Chronicle Sports Writer
He is considered the best athlete in
school, a player who can do just about
whatever he wants to on the court.
"Kenyon Grooms is not just a basket
ball player, he's simply a tremendous tal
ent," said Gabriel Gordon, father of North
Forsyth's Chad Gordon.
"Kenyon is one of those players like
a Magic Johnson. If you see him in prac
tice, he's not a great player. If you got him
in a shooting contest, you wouldn't pick
him," Gordon said. "But when he steps
between those lines, he'll score twenty
points." '
His teammate is considered the con
summate team leader, a player who knows
what it takes to win. While shooting the
ball is not considered his strength, he has
as a star on the gridiron as the starting free
safety on the North Forsyth varsity team.
"Kenyon can go a long way in bas
ketball if he wants to, but I think football
is his first love," Witt said. "He's really
improved in the past year. He's bccomc a
reliable shtxitcr from 1 5 feet, and he has a
tremendous first step to the basket."
Grooms said that basketball has
become a sport he puts more passion into.
When football season is over, he is con
sciously thinking about getting in shape
for basketball.
"Through practice, I've been able to
round out my games before the season
starts," Grooms said, who wilf also vie for
a starting spot in the Vikings' backficld as
a tailback next year. "It's important for the
team that I'm ready to play."
Despite his athletic prowess, Gnx>ms
still can be described as a raw talent. Last
"I want to win at least one game this year, but / don 't
want to lose. / want to be able to come back to North
and say we won the tournament, but I'll be happy
with one win. "
? James Johnson
X
no glaring weaknesses.
"James Johnson makes great deci
sions on the court by getting the hall to all
the players in their favorite spots," North
Forsyth coach Tommy Witt said. "It takes
a special player to sublimate his game for
the betterment of the team. James could
score eight points for us and still dominate
the game."
Together, North Forsyth's small for
ward Kenyon Grooms and point guard
James Johnson are considered the one-two
punch in the North Forsyth attack. And
while a significant part of their team's for
tunes this season depends on their devel
opment, both players shy away from the
spotlight.
"I don't see myself as a go-to player,
I just want to help my team win," Grooms
said. "I can contribute mostly on defense
and rebounding."
"I'm not the player who's going to
shoot all the time/' Johnson said. "I just
want to set the others up."
Both players have come from differ
ent paths to their current roles on the
Vikings. Grooms was a late bloomer who
started playing basketball at 12 in the
Boys Club, while Johnson took up the
sport as a seven-year old at the Winston
Lake YMCA. And though Johnson's first
sport is basketball. Grooms also doubles
year, Grooms tried out for the junior varsi
ty team and was among the final cuts.
After spending part of the season on the
ninth-grade roster, Grooms moved up to
the jayvee team before the Christmas holi
days.
Johnson, though a more polished
player, has also had to wait his turn. John
son was a top reserve who started two
games last year. A former player on the
Winston- Salem AAU 13-14 and 16 and
under teams, Johnson has a size advantage
over most of the points guards he will face
this year.
"His size does not deteriorate from
his quickness," Witt said. "James* long
arms and size makes it harder for other
point guards to see over him. Plus it helps
him to make some great passes on the *
offensive end."
Both players have had some experi
ence in the upcoming David Lash / Chron
icle Junior Varsity Holiday Tournament,
playing several minutes in each game.
Now both want to extend their stay in the
tournament to the championship round.
"I want to win at least one game this
year, but I don't want to lose," Johnson
said. "I ^vant to.be |p come back fo
Norty anjl say we won the tourmment? buj
Til he happy with one win."
? ' t i
Forward Kenyon Grooms (left) and guard James Johnson are two different players
with one common goal: to win the David iMshl Chronicle Tournament.
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