Football, Basketball
Favorite athlete: Kevin Durant
Favorite team: Sixers
Favorite memory competing in sports: Scoring 2 touchdowns in my state quarterfinal game
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that has happened while competing in sports: Getting screamed at by my mom during a game.
Music on Playlist: Lil Baby
Future plans: Major in Criminal Justice
Words to live by: “Take each obstacle in life head on.”
One goal before turning 30: Own my own house
One thing people don’t know about me: I don't like roller coasters
By GORDON GLANTZ
Ever since he can remember, Jahaire Johnson has wanted to be a police detective.
As such, it didn’t take long to figure out the most egregious crime he was committing against himself was not matching his athletic excellence as a two-sport star at Upper Moreland with his academics in the classroom.
Once he made the connection that the two were connected, he has been an unstoppable force and role model to others in the school.
“Coming from eighth grade, I had a hard transition,” he said. “I don’t know if it was a case of me being immature. I just think I could have made better decisions. I realized, after my sophomore year, that the next year was really going to be the year that colleges were going to be looking at me.”
It did not go unnoticed by his coaches. Dan Heiland has coached Johnson in both football and basketball since he was a freshman at Upper Moreland.
“The growth I have seen of him over these past four years -- as a student, an athlete and a young man-- is truly remarkable,” said Heiland, who is the varsity basketball coach and an assistant football coach. “Every year, I see improvements from Jahaire as a student. He has made great strides in his studies, and I truly believe he now understands the importance of maintaining good grades and how they can impact his future for the better.”
The other part of the equation, natural athleticism, was never in question.
“As an athlete, Jahaire is one of most talented individuals I have ever coached, and he is a tremendous leader,” added Heiland. “Not only is he gifted as a player, but he is extremely knowledgeable of the game. He continues to learn the game and get better at his craft, but most importantly, he is coachable and he wants to continue to get better.”
Johnson credited his mother, Angie, for his recent success as a student-athlete.
While she pushes him with his schoolwork, she is also seen – and heard -- at the games and urges him on to the point that he has felt compelled to respond.
“She has just always been by my side,” he explained. “That’s all I can really say. She definitely told me to always do well in school and don’t mess it up.”
He also thanked Upper Moreland Assistant Principal and Athlete Director Sean Feeley, saying: “His first year of coaching varsity was my freshman year, so we have had that bond since then.”
Football First
With his priorities in order academically, Johnson found himself having to do the same with sports.
As a 6-2 wing player in basketball, there are limitations at the next level. As a fleet-footed wide receiver/free safety, he knows where his future is (even if 165 pounds is a bit on the light side for football).
“I don’t spend as much time with basketball as I do with football,” he said, adding that he did play AAU basketball in his sophomore year but not last year because of COVID. “In football, I go out to the field and to the weight room.”
It was on the football field that he particularly forged a strong connection with quarterback Byron Hopkins, and Johnson was on the receiving end of two touchdown passes in what was his last high school game, a one-point loss in the hostile environment of Oil City in the state quarterfinals.
For his career, he was a three-year starter and two-time All-League wide receiver and defensive back, as well as a team captain in 2020.
His coach for all three years on the varsity level was C.J. Szydlik, who is also a Philadelphia Police Officer.
Said the coach, whose entrance into SOL football from the Philadelphia Catholic League coincided with Johnson’s varsity career: “He does everything for everybody, whatever he is playing. He is just one of those kids. For us, not only was he on offense and defense, but on special teams. He did everything and anything that you asked him to do. And he did it all with a smile on his face, and with a little bit of laughter, and he would just go from there. He was just that kind of kid. He was a team captain for us this year, but he has been a leader for us, vocally, for the last three years.
“He is just one of those kids who got it, and he worked hard every day.”
Virtual Reality
As a student-athlete in the sudden onset of the Covid-19 era, Johnson has had to make adjustments and decisions.
One of them was to choose to attend school virtually.
“It has been really hard,” he said. “But, with the choice of going to school or staying virtual, I think it’s helpful for a student-athlete. You’re not getting up as early, and being in school all day and then having to go to practice. That’s a lot of wear and tear on the kids’ bodies.”
Wear on tear on his body is certainly something that Johnson needs to be vigilant about.
A year ago, when he was averaging around 17 points per game, Johnson tore his meniscus and missed the rest of the campaign.
“I got hurt on Jan. 16,” he said of a date that is etched in his mind. “It was definitely hard, just because I couldn’t be on the court with the team. Knowing we had such a good team, it was just hurtful. But, you know, I had no other choice but to still be there on the bench and try my best to be a good teammate.”
It would be natural, with an injury like that, to worry about a ripple effect with football this autumn.
“I actually wasn’t too worried,” he said. “I knew I was going to put the work in so that I could be ready.”
Johnson’s coaches, while concerned, were also confident in his mindset, in terms of coming back stronger as a senior.
“I don’t think it ever became an issue,” said Szydlik, who said Johnson played with a brace more for protection than need.
Heiland believes Johnson gained perspective from the adversity, and put his work ethic to the test.
“I give Jahaire a ton of credit and it shows you what type of young man he is, because even through all the challenges and adversity that he faced he kept a positive attitude and kept grinding, never looking back,” said Heiland. “He got himself back into playing shape a lot quicker than most of his coaches and teammates thought, and, again, it’s a testament to his work ethic. I was so happy for Jahaire, to see him back on the field and on the court where he shines and can truly showcase his abilities.
“As he continues to build on his legacy on our Upper Moreland programs, I feel very lucky to have coached him in multiple sports these past four years. He truly is an exceptional young man and has a very bright future in anything he wants to do.”
Looking Ahead
Following a successful football season – putting him on the radar of schools such as West Chester, Millersville and now Delaware Valley – the basketball team was 9-3 after 12 games.
“We are definitely trying to not only make it to the playoffs but to win the first round,” said Johnson, adding that he is one of two senior starters, along with Jourdan Gregg. “We’ve gone (to the playoffs) the last few years but haven’t gotten past the first round, so that’s what we want to do.”
Once the season ends, the college selection process will shift into higher gear.
Szydlik sees a bright future.
“I think he’s going to feel out some options,” said the coach. “He can even do a prep school if he wants to try a higher level. Things like that are all kind of up in the air for him right now, but he’ll get it together. He’s a sharp kid. He is just taking his time to make sure he makes the right decision.”
Because he is such a fluid athlete on both sides of the ball, colleges have asked Johnson his preference, leading him to ask his coach.
“I don’t think he cares,” said Szydlik. “I think he just wants to play.”
And play he will.
“I think, realistically, he is probably going to be a really good defensive back,” said Szydlik. “He sees and does things on the football field that, instincts-wise, puts him ahead of other people. He can play center field (free safety) with the best of them.”
In the final analysis, Johnson was that rare combination of a student-athlete able to take to take the sport, football or basketball, seriously without taking himself too seriously.
“He’s just one of those kids who you know you were going to get laughs and jokes with and, when it was time to be serious, he was,” said Szydlik. “I’m probably going to miss hearing his voice every single day.
“He enjoys life. He enjoys playing sports, and enjoys being around his teammates. He is just, overall, a great kid.”
