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In Rarified Air

Jamestown’s Johnson Named Fifth-Team Class AA All-State After Banner Junior Year

In this file photo from March, Jamestown’s Jaydian Johnson puts up a shot while being defended by an Elmont Memorial player during the NYSPHSAA Class AA semifinal at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls. P-J photo by Steve Garvey

SYRACUSE — In a season to remember, a Jamestown High School basketball player keeps adding to his already-bulging resume.

Jaydian Johnson has been named fifth-team Class AA All-State after leading the Red & Green (21-5) to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association semifinals in March.

The announcement, made Wednesday by the New York State Sportswriters Association, caps a junior year in which the 6-foot-1 guard averaged 19 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals. In addition, he shot 45.5% from the field and 75% from the foul line, and made 50 3-point goals. On the season, Johnson collected 115 assists (11th on Jamestown’s single-season list); and 56 steals (tied for 19th in a single-season); and for his career he has amassed 792 points (19th on the school’s all-time list), dished out 199 assists (14th all-time); made 102 steals (20th all-time); and drilled 104 3-pointers (eighth all-time).

Other postseason honors that Johnson has received include: Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division 1 and All-ECIC Player of the Year; and Western New York Large School Second Team.

Added together, Johnson turned in one of the finest seasons in school history.

Other Western New York players earning NYSSWA all-state recognition in Class AA are Jaiden Harrison of Bishop Timon-St. Jude, Player of the Year; Jakye Rainey, Nichols, First Team; Jacob Humphrey of Bishop Timon-St. Jude, Second Team; Amir Moye of Health Sciences, Third Team; Nakyhi Harris of Bishop-Timon St. Jude, Fourth Team; Nicholas Purdie of Canisius, 10th Team; Chris McDonald of Orchard Park, 12th Team; Luke Walck of Niagara Wheatfield, 13th Team; and Nate Errington of Frontier, 14th Team.

Honorable-mention selections are Charlie Croff of Lockport, Matt LaRusch of Frontier; David Washington of Hutch Tech; and Pat Benzir of Canisius.

Among Class AAA honorees from WNY are Jordan Alexander of Lancaster, Fourth Team; Nick Estell of Niagara Falls, Ninth Team; and Ephraim Strong and Johnson Strong of Niagara Falls, honorable mention.

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