From the Westbank to Uptown: Shaw alum leading Wolf Pack in dominant junior season

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – An Archbishop Shaw alum is why Loyola men’s basketball has already won more games this season than its entire 2025 campaign.

Kam Johnson leads the Wolf Pack in scoring, assists, steals and minutes played, and even first-year head coach Trey Lindsey is shocked with the workload his stocky point guard can handle.

“We’re putting a lot of pressure on a dude that’s only 5’10”: A lot of minutes, I think he’s playing almost 37.5 minutes a game. We’ve really asked him to lead this team, and he’s stepped up. Everything that we’ve challenged him to do, he’s done so far this year,” Lindsey said.

The main challenge Johnson has met though is a commitment the point guard made to himself. The junior is averaging more than 17-points-per-game, doubling his scoring output from last season, and increasing his production has been one of Johnson’s focal points this year.

“That actually was one of the goals I wrote down in my notes was to double every category. I just feel like my three ball has been really helping me a lot. It clears up a lot of lanes,” the junior added.

Johnson is shooting better than 40 percent from three point range, which helps clear those lanes for his 6.5 assist-per-game average.

The point guard’s scoring has been necessary though, amidst key injuries to the Wolf Pack’s roster, but Johnson’s growth as a leader is what impresses Coach Lindsey the most.

“We just talked early every day in practice. It’s the Kellen-Sampson. The head coach and the point guard can’t have a bad practice. Challenged him to have that voice. Told him you’ve got the basketball IQ. You have the production. Guys are looking to you to lead so people look to him. and when he speaks, people listen,” the first-year head coach explained.

“It’s something I’m new to in college at least cause Braelee (Albert) and Milan (Mejia) was our leaders last year so I never had to lead vocally, but this year, I feel like that’s more of my role. I had to learn how to talk to certain guys certain ways, but I feel I’ve been doing a great job. That’s something I’m proud of myself,” the point guard said.

And while Johnson makes himself proud, the Shaw alum is also putting smiles on his family’s faces. Getting the chance to continue his basketball career in New Orleans is something Johnson has cherished since moving from the Westbank to Uptown.

“This great. My family be coming to the game. It’s really important for me. My high school coach, Coach Wesley (Laurendine), he be texting me. He be tuning into the games. Loyola’s a good school, good culture, being in the city, I feel like everything is what I needed. My fans, the people at home, people I grew up with get to come to the game, watch me still in the city so I feel like it was a great decision to come here,” Johnson finished.

The junior point guard, once again, played a key role in Loyola’s most recent victory against Brewton-Parker: Johnson finished with a game-high 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

The Wolf Pack beat the Barons 88-73 for their fourth-straight win.

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