They’re the two names that have meant everything for the Ocean View High boys’ basketball team for the last few years.
Rarely is one heard without the other. For your convenience, the first names are even close enough together, rolling off the tongue. Anthony and Avery. Avery and Anthony.
“We’re in the business of developing players,” Coach Jim Harris said, but rarely in Harris’ 32 years as head coach have players like these come around.
Both like to throw down a dunk from time to time and both are listed as guard/forwards, although Brown is 6 feet 7 and Johnson is 6-3. Yet it might not surprise those close to the program that both players are averaging 17.5 points per game heading into Saturday night’s CIF Southern Section Division III-AA championship game against Foothill.
Brown has scored 526 points this season. Johnson has scored 525.
These statistics could be higher in other programs, but Ocean View has always played the team game. Brown and Johnson, the co-CIF Southern Section Division IV-AA players of the year a year ago, don’t seem to mind. Brown has a scholarship to Stanford and Johnson has offers from the University of the Pacific, University of Portland and UC Riverside. He said he’s also going on official visits to Oregon and USC later this month.
“Just focus on winning and everything will take care of itself,” Johnson said.
Ocean View’s done a lot of that lately. The Seahawks won the Division IV-AA title last year and advanced to the CIF State Division III finals. Brown and Johnson have been in the spotlight, and time and time again they have delivered.
The only egos may come during video game basketball sessions, though.
Brown will go with his NBA team of choice, the Oklahoma City Thunder, featuring his favorite player Kevin Durant. Johnson’s favorite is LeBron James, and he’ll probably counter with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“He’s ‘the chosen one,’ ” Johnson said, flashing his trademark big grin. “The best player in the world.”
James and Durant are arguably the front-runners for the NBA Most Valuable Player award this year. Good luck trying to figure out Ocean View’s MVP.
Johnson leads the team in assists (4.8 per game) and steals (2.4). Brown leads the team in three-pointers made (47) and is second in rebounding (6.9 per game).
