The Numbers
Tell the Story

Marcus Johnson

From the South Side to the Starting Lineup — and Into College

Marcus Johnson arrived at Lincoln Park High School as a sophomore with one thing on his mind: basketball. He had the athleticism, the drive, and the work ethic. What he didn't have was a plan for what came after the final buzzer.

His school counselor referred him to Rising MVPs in the fall of his junior year. Within weeks, Marcus was matched with DeShawn Williams — a former NCAA Division I coach who had navigated the same crossroads two decades earlier. Their conversations moved quickly from game film to college applications, from free throw percentages to personal statements.

Through the Leadership Academy, Marcus discovered a voice he hadn't known he had. He gave his first public speech in front of 80 community members that spring. He completed 52 hours of community service at a South Side food bank, where he eventually organized a youth basketball clinic that drew 60 neighborhood kids.

In May of his senior year, Marcus received a partial scholarship to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he is now majoring in kinesiology and minoring in nonprofit management. He returned to Rising MVPs the following summer as a junior mentor. He's 19 years old.