PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – NBA Finals start Tuesday night and while they can’t be there, a special group of women in Moon Township will be watching and praying for Cam Johnson and the Phoenix Suns against Milwaukee.
The Felician Sisters order has a gathering, sometimes as many as a half-dozen, rooting for Johnson, one of their former students and acquaintances. They are associated with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, where Johnson spent the final two years of high school.
“I’m always hoping he gets on the floor,” Sister Francine Horos told 93.7 The Fan. “I watch him more than anyone else. He’s selfless when he plays basketball. He’s definitely going to assist. He’s not going to always hog the ball.”
“It seems that he’s doing more defensive plays than offensive plays. When he shoots from the 3-point line, I’m actually praying that he makes it in.”
It’s a pretty good breakdown of Johnson’s game, and she would know. Sister Francine was his math teacher; she not only watched all of his OLSH high school games, but watches every time he’s on TV.
“That’s awesome,” Johnson said. “I did go to a Catholic school and the convent was right next door. The nuns would come and go and some were more involved than others. My mom was a school nurse there for a lot of years (and still is). She had a lot of relations with them. They are very nice and very sweet. That’s awesome.”
“It’s just unbelievable that I know someone that happens to be in the NBA,” Sister Francine said. “He’s the most polite guy I know. Very humble. Very gentle, a gentleman.”
Matt Farago works in the athletic department at OLSH and remembers Johnson’s five inch growth spurt his senior year. The Easter afternoon in 2015 Johnson was playing 5-on-5 at the school and then Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon stopped by on his way to the airport. That meeting turned into Johnson’s only Power 5 offer, which he accepted to play at Pitt before transferring to North Carolina.
“Basketball IQ,” Farago said of what helps set Johnson apart. “Cam is just a smart guy. I think he would be doing great things if he wasn’t playing in the NBA. I remember talking to him at Pitt saying he would probably major in something else if he wasn’t concentrating on basketball.”
Of all the great Pittsburgh athletes, it may be surprising to some that Johnson is the one in the NBA Finals. Farago noted he didn’t dominate like some others, but constantly worked at his shot.
“This means a lot,” Johnson said of playing for the NBA Championship. “Watching the Finals every year of my life. It’s something millions and millions of people around the world would give a lot to be a part of. The fact that myself, my team and everyone in this organization has an opportunity to play in it is incredible. I’m just really thankful that I have this opportunity.”
So are those that know him back home. Many of the Felician Sisters in Pittsburgh have friends at the same order in Milwaukee. They have already been in contact about the outcome. It will be for bragging rights only, the sisters have no money to bet.
“I know Cam,” Sister Francine said. “He’s a great guy. Very happy that he’s at that level. I wish the team, that they will be victorious in the Finals.”
To be clear, she’s not rooting against the Bucks. Just for the teenager who inspires those in their school, community and convent.
“I’m rooting for Cam, he just happens to be on the Phoenix Suns.”