The arena’s din does little to break his concentration. Keon Johnson drives toward the basket, his eyes locked on its rim. With a swift pivot, he creates space as his body twists, the ball arcs through the air, and the net swishes in one fluid, confident connection. His turnaround fadeaway jumper is a signature move, flaunting his skill and poise under pressure.
But past the highlight-reel plays, analytics, and metrics, there’s a quieter side to the Brooklyn Nets star — a side that finds peace in Bell Buckle, the small town that gave birth to his high school dreams. Johnson promised to remain loyal to the community that believed in him, and he fulfills it with his annual Bell Buckle Basketball Camp. This event is made possible by his belief in the power of mentorship.
Johnson connected more fully to basketball his freshman year, shifting his focus from baseball fields to high school hardwood. He revered the older players in the community, like Barry Stewart and Emmanuel Andrews, dreaming of one day following in their footsteps.
The standout player enrolled at the University of Tennessee following graduation from The Webb School, earning a spot on the Tennessee Vols SEC All-Freshman basketball team. His season there was so successful that he entered the 2021 NBA draft, where he was the New York Knicks’ first-round 21st draft pick and was traded the same evening to the Los Angeles Clippers. Today, he’s a shooting guard for the Brooklyn Nets.
In June 2022, he battled the tragic loss of his father and best friend, Keith; even practicing was a struggle. His dad was the family’s glue and set the stage for his basketball career, along with Johnson’s mom, Conswella Sparrow Johnson, a former All-Southeastern Conference women’s basketball player.
When Johnson was growing up, fishing trips were the perfect setting for life lessons on and off the court. His father constantly encouraged him to never give up and always remain humble. Though the loss was immense, his tenacity and desire to make his father proud invigorated his growing love for the game. He eventually channeled his grief into motivation.
Connection, time, and a heart for the people brought the quiet-spirited athlete back courtside for a week in July to host his second annual two-day Bell Buckle Basketball Camp.
The energy in The Webb School’s gym was contagious. Johnson bounded around the court, high-fiving kids, yelling out plays, and even joining in the drills. His passion for the game was evident, but his love for the kids was even more apparent. As he watched, his smile widened, and his eyes sparkled with satisfaction.
“Whenever I was coming up, I was one of those kids always dreaming and looking up to the older guys around the community. But, there wasn’t really the opportunity for me to connect to them the way that these kids now have the opportunity to connect with me.”
He continued, “[This summer], whenever I got done with summer league, we got a two-week break period. I knew that I wanted to have my camp [this year] to be around those kids and create that hunger for myself leading up to the season. I wanted to motivate people while they motivated me at the same time.”
For many athletes, coming home and hosting a free sports camp is a way to give back to the community that raised them. For Johnson, it’s a pledge to create a new generation of children who believe in their innate potential to succeed in everything they do.
“The inspiration really has been to let these kids know that any dream that they have, they can chase it as long as they put the work in,” Johnson said.
The camp aims to teach the kids fundamentals they can use on the court and in their daily lives. These include life skills like active listening, focus, and proactivity, as well as ball handling, setting plays, and tips and tricks from Johnson’s professional experience. The kids even enjoy some light competition.
The camp’s atmosphere is just as explosive as Johnson is on the court. The first half of the camp, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., takes kids through skills and drills, working on offense and defense — skills they can use in any position on the court. The last three hours see them competing in five-on-five games.
Johnson’s eyes brightened as he described the kids’ excitement and the way their faces would light up when he’d high-five them after a successful shot. Offering these kids an opportunity to grow and have fun was his greatest reward.
The community is increasingly taking advantage of the opportunities Johnson provides. This year’s camp size has doubled since the first year.
For aspiring athletes, Johnson advises getting a little better every day — doing that 1% Kobe Bryant always mentioned.
“15 to 20 minutes a day will go a long way,” he said, a hint of experience in his voice.
Before signing with the Nets, Johnson transitioned from his stint as part of the Portland Trail Blazers to spending time in the G League, averaging 17.5 rebounds and three assists.
The athlete described a few key takeaways from his career over the last two years.
“Each day that I get a chance to wake up and lace my shoes up is an opportunity to show that I’m continuing to grow and be a better professional. Sometimes, we look too far ahead instead of being where our feet are. I am just trying to take what the moment has given me and continue to stay hungry in that moment.”
Johnson’s vision for the future of Bell Buckle summer camps is to create an AAU skills camp and bring in new competitions annually to help other kids be in his position.
Like his dad, he’s empowering Bedford County’s youth to follow their dreams and find their places both on and off the court. He’s building confident connections for life. GN
