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This time, his deficit isn't size, but rather experience. No one around Purdue's program is predicting anything but a radiant future for him as a Boilermaker. One opposing coaching staff that scored a win over Purdue this season left predicting an All-Big Ten future for the young guard. But it's been a process. "It's a lot of adjustments," Johnson said. "It is." That's been apparent as the freshman has battled turnovers. Through 10 games, he's handed out just one more assist than he's committed turnovers. After starting the first few games of the season, he was moved to a reserve role before returning to the starting unit for the Notre Dame game. Purdue isn't necessarily asking the rookie to be a scorer, per se, but he's trying, but shooting just 32 percent from the field, 2-of-23 from three-point range. In high school, Johnson could single-handedly dictate a game's tempo. Passes that would have produced layups or dunks for teammates in high school now are just as soon to create layups or dunks for opponents. And it's perfectly fine to fire threes in high school when you're your team's main scorer; in college, it doesn't make as much sense to shoot when shots aren't going in and other capable players are sharing the floor. "He's going to be fine," Painter said recently. "He just has to find his way out of it and let the game slow down. He has to be a little more simple in his approach, then when he experiences a little bit more success, he can be more aggressive." Ronnie Johnson possesses all the tools and characteristics looked for in point guards. Now, he needs one above all others: Steadiness. "He's been level-headed, but he's had some trouble shooting the ball and turning the ball over," Terone Johnson said. "In high school it wasn't as important as it is now, as far as (protecting) the possessions we get and how it harms the team. He's learning that now and he'll get better. "Coach Painter put it best. He said to him, 'You can listen and maybe be an All-American. Or you can just be a regular player.' I think he has a bright future." j Stockton Photo Johnson has battled turnover woes in the early going and endured his first benching. His shooting has struggled as well, but Coach Matt Painter hasn't lost confidence in his rookie point guard. By early spring, his name started popping up on lists of the top point guards nationally in his class. Had there been any national awareness of Johnson, there's no telling where he ultimately would've been ranked or who ultimately would have offered him a scholarship. But the timing worked out for Purdue. In the summer, long-standing point guard commitment Kyle Molock was felled by a major knee injury, sending Boilermaker coaches back into the market for help at the position. However circuitous it may have been, things worked out well for Purdue. By the time Matt Painter started looking at point guards — or, more specifically, a point guard — Johnson's stock had risen to that of one of the top players nationally at his position, good enough to start his very first game as a Boilermaker. But as was the case years ago when he was just a little kid, Johnson again must acclimate to his surroundings. GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com DISCOVERY IS OUR MISSION FINDING A CURE IS OUR GOAL www.cancerresearch.purdue.edu Gold & Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 3 • 45