TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Rickards senior Darius "BJ" Johnson has a smile so contagious, he can turn anyone's frown upside down. That's why you wouldn't realize from an early age, Johnson's had it tough.
Before he was six years old, not one, but both of his parents were behind bars and Johnson went to live with his grandmother, Shirley Edney.
"The pain from seeing the struggle, and being not able to help out, reach out to help the family members. I was young and I couldn't pitch in. I couldn't help. It was all I really wanted, because I wanted to make my grandmother happy," said Johnson.
Then in high school, Johnson was dealt another blow. The woman who raised him passed away. Johnson was alone again.
With nowhere else to turn, he ended up living inside his grandmother's car for three months, before being taken in by one of his coaches. He still has the car, a 2002 Chevy. He calls it "the blue-gatti".
Rickards High School turned out to be his anchor in all things. From academics to of course, baseball.
"I would just try to keep afloat, keep my head above water, and not drown," said Johnson.
His coaches and teachers guided him through college exams.
"You got to bust it and trust it, basically. If you get a failing score, do it again," said Johnson. "Don't let it get you down."
And Friday that hard work paid off; Johnson signed a scholarship to play at Iowa Lakes Community College.
Johnson's coach says he always came through in a clutch, in school and on the field.
A prime example, Johnson hit the only home run of his career when he needed most, the day college recruiters came to visit to see him play.
