In his final season at Episcopal High in Northern Virginia, Xavier Johnson found basketball both easy and fun. A playmaking point guard, he enjoyed the sky-high confidence that comes with senior-year stardom. He was bigger and stronger and smarter than most of his opponents. He knew his team’s offense like a native language. He had the trust and respect of his coaches and teammates. His shooting light was always green.
But for most basketball players, that kind of freedom goes away the minute they arrive at college. Suddenly, they are one of many high school stars competing for playing time, let alone scoring opportunities. Beyond the occasional superstar, life as a college freshman is about finding a way to contribute and survive.
Johnson understood this hard truth when he arrived at George Mason in the fall of 2019. He focused on defense and facilitation, knowing those skills would help him get time on the court. He became a sturdy and reliable college point guard, averaging about six points per game over three seasons with the Patriots.
But life is different now. Strange yet familiar. Johnson is in his fifth year of college, now at Southern Illinois, and he is one of the top scorers in Division I men’s college basketball. He is playing with the freedom and confidence he had in high school. But the stats? They’re even better now. Entering Sunday’s regular season finale against Northern Iowa, the 23-year-old is averaging 21.9 points, good for fourth in the country.
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“You never know when your time is going to come, so you just try to stay ready to play that kind of role if you need to,” he said. “But honestly, I didn’t know when or if it would come back.”
His transformation started in the transfer portal. Johnson, a D.C.-area native, enjoyed playing close to home at George Mason. But one year after a coaching change, he and the Patriots’ staff agreed it would be best to part ways. He entered the portal with two years of eligibility remaining, unsure what to expect.
Ultimately, it felt like getting recruited all over again — minus some of the excitement. It still felt nice to be pursued, but Johnson approached things more carefully this time around. He was less innocent and more world-weary.
“You have to restart the process,” Johnson said. “It’s a little stressful having to find a home all over again.”
More than anything, he just wanted to feel comfortable. Southern Illinois (19-11) contacted him right away, offering to visit Johnson and his family in Florida. There was a connection with the Salukis: SIU assistant Brendan Mullins, older brother of Coach Bryan Mullins, had recruited him out of high school. Now the team needed a point guard, and Johnson needed a new place to play. Both sides liked the fit.
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He joined an experienced SIU team with more than one senior scorer. It took him some time to learn the offense, and when he did, he saw that his optimal role remained as a distributor and floor general.
“Most teams don’t have pure point guards these days,” said Xavier’s father, Kelvin. “But Xavier is an old school point guard who wants to get everyone involved. If he has a shot, he’ll take it. But oftentimes he was taking a back seat to other guys in those first couple of years, just playing his role.”
Off the court, it took Johnson some time to get used to the small town feel of Carbondale, Ill. Far from home, he felt both independent and isolated. His basketball work rate, already fervent, only escalated in this new setting.
Before his fifth season of college basketball, Johnson knew he would need to play a different role. The Salukis had lost those senior scorers and were in need of a new playmaker. Johnson trained in the offseason with an eye toward a heavier load, and when the season finally arrived, he started to carry things: 20 points in the season opener. A career-high 38 against James Madison in late November. Three straight games of more than 30 in December.
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The points kept coming, and the game started to feel like it had in his senior year of high school again. He was older and wiser than most of his opponents. He knew the offense. And he had the green light.
“I had more freedom,” Johnson said. “And that freedom allows me to play off instincts more. I can overthink sometimes, so it’s nice to be able to go out there and take some shots and open up the floor.”
Back in Virginia, Episcopal Coach Jim Fitzpatrick watched with more pride than shock as his former star found a new level.
“It’s hard to explain to anybody that wasn’t in the gym with him,” Fitzpatrick said. “But we’ve seen it. He was in the gym five days a week at 6 a.m. working on his skills. So I don’t think his skills have gotten any better — they’ve been there all these years. It’s just a different level of confidence and getting the green light from his coaches.”
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Johnson has created a self-perpetuating cycle: Big games breed confidence, and confidence breeds big games.
“Basketball is a funny game,” Fitzpatrick said. “So many players have a stronger ability than what they’re able to show on a daily basis. That’s just how things work. … But once you get that first 20-, 30-point game — it’s almost like Xavier has had a nonstop rhythm all year.”
That confidence has trickled down to every aspect of his game. He remains a dogged defender, but he’s averaging 3.4 more assists per game than last season, and his free throw percentage is up more than 15 percent.
“It’s not strange for me to see those stats. I’m just thankful,” Johnson said. “Even when I wasn’t scoring the ball, I was still working out the same way. I always knew the work that needed to be done. I just needed the opportunity.”
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