Hernandez, Johnson Reunite at UM
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It took four years, but Dewan Hernandez and Zach Johnson are finally back together.
After dominating locally in Miami for two seasons at Norland High School, Hernandez and Johnson went their separate ways following Johnson’s graduation in 2014. Johnson headed off to Florida Gulf Coast and two years later, Hernandez graduated and moved on to UM.
After graduating from FGCU this past summer, Johnson transferred to Miami for his final year of eligibility, reuniting with Hernandez for the Hurricanes’ 2018-19 season.
“We’ve been trying to play together since high school,” Hernandez said. “We wanted to go to the same college, but it didn’t work out that way. Luckily in his last year, I told him ‘this is a move you should make,’ and we were able to get it done.”
After deciding to transfer, Johnson was in high demand by a host of schools as a graduate transfer. In just three seasons at FGCU, he scored 1,344 points, finishing fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list. Last season he was a First-Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference selection after averaging 16.1 points, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He had plenty of strong options from which to choose, but in the end decided to return to the comforts of home and join forces again with Hernandez.
“It was pretty hectic,” Johnson said of the transfer process. “I didn’t think it would be that hectic. It really came down to me being comfortable. Having Dewan here was definitely a big influence in my decision – just who he was and having already a built a relationship with him and seeing how he fit in with everybody else here and the coaching staff. Having him here was definitely a big factor.”
The duo teamed up and dominated at Norland High School for two seasons, Johnson’s junior and senior seasons and Hernandez’s freshman and sophomore campaigns. In both seasons, Norland won the Florida Class 6A State Championship, and in each instance, Johnson was named the State Final Four MVP.
The two first started playing alongside one another in the summer of 2012 when Hernandez was entering his freshman year at Norland and Johnson his junior season. Johnson gave Hernandez quite the indoctrination to his new level of basketball.
“Zach introduced me to high school basketball. He dunked on me,” Hernandez said with a laugh. “It was the first time I ever got dunked on. I’ll never forget that.
“Back then, it was like ‘dang, I just got dunked on.’ I couldn’t do anything but laugh, and that’s how I’ve always been since that whenever I got dunked on. That’s part of basketball.”
Despite going their separate ways, the pair kept in close contact and played together in summer pick-up games. They saw each other play on television, and last season Hernandez saw Johnson play in person when FGCU came to Miami to play FIU. Now that they have reunited, the transition has been seamless.
“I know what Zach brings to the table and what he is going to do,” Hernandez said. “I know how to make myself available to him for him to get me the ball. I know his game.”
“Practices have been fun,” Johnson said. “I think the transition for me has been pretty easy, playing with Dewan, and everybody seems really cool. It hasn’t really been a major, uncomfortable adjustment for me. It has been pretty smooth and the guys have helped me a lot.”
With the season quickly approaching, Johnson figures to play a major role for the Hurricanes. Hernandez provided a good scouting report on what Johnson brings to the team while comparing him to one of his recent teammates.
“He brings a lot of what Bruce Brown brought to the team: a big, physical guard that can get in and rebound, make plays for everybody else, get buckets and knock down the three,” Hernandez said.
Johnson similarly had high praise for Hernandez, particularly the improvements he has made since coming to UM.
“Dewan has taken a big jump and can do a little bit of everything,” Johnson said. “He can rebound, block shots, hit jumpers. He passes the ball a lot better than people realize.”
While they are teammates again for just this season, Hernandez and Johnson each are excited for the opportunity and think big things are ahead this season for their Canes’ team.
“I think we have a good group of guys and it’s an older group than people realize,” Johnson said. “We can really do some good things this year. Everybody on this team brings something different and anybody is capable of having a big night.”
“We have a lot of guys who can play more than one position,” Hernandez said. We’ve got a lot of versatility that will make us dangerous.”
Miami opens play at the Watsco Center on Oct. 30 with an exhibition against Barry University, and kicks off the regular season Nov. 9 versus Lehigh.
Season tickets for the 2018-19 men’s basketball home schedule start at $160 and are on sale now through the UM Athletics Ticket Office. Miami has sold out its season-ticket allotment for three straight seasons. Tickets can be purchased online HERE or by calling the ticket office at 1-800-GO-CANES. For more details, call the ticket office or email canestix@miami.edu.
