The King’s Academy boys basketball program has experienced a resurgence during the past 18 months. Wins have piled up, and the Lions are 34-12 during that span, including a 17-2 record this season.
A big part of the resurgence has been senior guard, Jonathan “JJ” Joseph. The 6-foot-1 point guard has been the focal point of the offense. He recently joined the 1,000-point club at TKA.
“I am very proud of JJ. He made King’s his home very fast. I wasn’t too worried about the basketball part, but you really want your players to thrive academically and socially, too,” coach Murray Smith said. “JJ has done exactly that. He’s taken advantage of every opportunity that a place like King’s can provide.”
Joseph averaged 17 points per game in his junior season and picked up right where he left off, averaging nearly 19 points this season. He made his presence felt in the 2020 district playoffs with a 30-point performance in a double-overtime win over the Benjamin School. He has produced several more 30-point performances this season.
“It’s a satisfying feeling to watch a student-athlete embrace their school and their school embrace their student-athlete,” Director of Athletics Dr. Chris Hobbs said. “That is exactly what has happened for JJ. I think he’s really proud to be a Lion, and we are really proud that he is one of us.”
Joseph joins a resurgence of 1,000-point scorers at TKA. Calvin Johnson eclipsed the mark in 2018, and Madison Lee did the same in 2020.
