June 08--Kris Bryant was Jay Johnson's biggest recruit five years ago when he served as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego, and Johnson expressed his appreciation Monday for the current Chicago Cubs' rookie star third baseman.
"There's not a 15 or 16 or 17-year-old baseball player that doesn't want to be Kris Bryant some day," Johnson said at a news conference in Tucson where he was officially named as the University of Arizona baseball coach. "That's been a lot of fun to watch his progression and his success, and be a part of that. Those are the kind of guys that you want to recruit -- guys that are very talented.
"And that's a special once in a coaching career-type deal with him, in terms of his ability. But the other things we were talking about -- makeup, work ethic, attitude, team first, the motor that he had was special, too. That's why he's going to be a 10-time All-Star, probably. I'm really excited to have been a part of Kris' development."
Johnson was the chief recruiter at USD and was extremely impressed with Bryant's upbringing and demeanor, as well as his talents, during his recruitment out of Bonanza High School in Las Vegas. Johnson added that the players who have committed to Arizona for next fall can realize the importance of a college education by following Bryant, a standout student at USD before signing with the Cubs afrer his junior season in 2013.
"He wanted to be wanted, and I'm proud to say we offered him a 100 percent scholarship, which doesn't happen much in our sport (with only 11.7 scholarships available for Division I baseball programs)," said Johnson, the University of Nevada head coach for the past two seasons. "So I'm very thankful that he made the decision that he did and probably the more important one is the one our recruits are dealing with (with the amateur draft)."
