When the announcement came during Saturday afternoon’s Griz basketball romp over Sac State that Anthony Johnson had become the first player in UM men’s hoops history to score more than 1,000 career points in just two years, the senior guard received a standing ovation from the partisan crowd.

It’s odd, because that night I had someone tell me he would have been a much better player if he had shared the ball more with his teammates.

My immediate thought was twofold: first, Johnson was recruited because he could score, although I don’t think any of us realized what a scoring machine he would be. Second, Johnson was more than willing to share the ball with his teammates, more than willing to bust his butt on defense, and more than willing to take his share of the blame when the Grizzlies lost.

As I thought further about it, though, I realized what people might be missing is Anthony’s best trait of all: his leadership ability.

I’m not sure coaches anticipated that leadership would be part of the package when they signed him out of junior college in Washington two years ago. But what a bonus!

His leadership comes largely by example. Anthony’s not a rah-rah player, although he shows enthusiasm in everything he does on the court. He plays hard, doesn’t get many minutes of rest, and encourages his teammates. I think he’s been invaluable in bring talented freshman Will Cherry along.

The really scary thing about Anthony Johnson is how much his absence will be noticed next season and beyond.

Thanks for the good times, Anthony, those you’ve given us so far, and those yet to come as this season winds down.

- Bill Schwanke