Those who were lucky enough to be in attendance on that memorable night when the Championship of the Tournament of Champions was decided, will recall the tremendous 10+ Minute standing ovation that was directed toward Charley Johnson at the conclusion of that
Championship game. To say the least, it is very unusual because it was in a losing cause, albeit a Close game.Charlie’s basketball exploits are still legendary, to say nothing of his track Conquests. Charley, CJ, left Sequoia after graduation to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he was the team basketball captain for the 1969, 1970, & 1971 years. He paced his California team in assists twice, averaged 7 rebounds (a superior effort considering he was less that 6 feet in height), enjoyed a 70% free throw average, and a 40% field goal average over the course of his career at Cal. He was accorded the Naismith Trophy after his senior year, awarded annually to the top basketball player in the country under six feet in height. CJ was voted into the University of California Athletic Hall of Frame in 1996. The Golden State Warrior drafted him after his graduation from Cal. During the 1975 Season Cj helped the warriors to their only world championship, when they shocked the Basketball world by sweeping the heavily favored Washington Bullets in four games. CJ was Later traded to the same Washington Bullets, and proceeded to help them win their only NBA Championship. Prior to his death, played scratch golf and assisted the NBA by coordinating fund raising golf tournaments for needy NBA retirees. Charlie,CJ Johnson succored to colon cancer in 2007.