Thirteen is typically regarded as an unlucky number. Marques Johnson, a sophomore point guard who becomes eligible at the end of the semester after transferring from Tennessee, wears the number 13 to represent unlucky situations that have taken place throughout his basketball journey.

Growing up in Fort Wayne, Ind., Johnson developed a love for basketball at a young age. While his father was one of the first people to introduce him to basketball, it was Amateur Athletic Union coach Eric Vaughn and longtime friend Geno Parker, who helped take his game to the next level.

Parker and Johnson first met at the YMCA while playing one-on-one. They remained friends and became teammates on BlessedIJN [AAU team] under Vaughn, despite Johnson being three years younger.

“[Vaughn] would always get a hold of good talent,” Parker said. “In the summer, we would work out every day, sometimes twice a day with him. He used to push us so hard and had us playing 24:7.”

While Johnson and Parker played together in many situations, they also continued to play one-on-one religiously. It was here that Parker discovered how much Johnson hates to lose.

“He has a will to win,” Parker said. “Anytime you’re around someone as competitive as Marques, the team is going to benefit.”

“We competed constantly, whether it be who was better at basketball or the common day-to-day things in life. Sometimes the competition would lead to us not talking for days. That’s the type of teammate you want.”

And that’s the type of teammate he was. Playing at Snider High School, Johnson had standout seasons in his first three years and was highly-touted for his natural scorer’s mentality, solid handles and deep-range jumper. Unfortunately for him, many forgot about the high school superstar due to an unlucky finish to his high school career, as he played out of position for most of his senior year.

Johnson was ready to put his frustration behind him as he committed to play for Tennessee under Bruce Pearl. Shortly into his freshman season, Johnson saw his plans weren’t on the same page as Pearl’s and decided to take a different route, although he struggled leaving behind his teammates.

According to his mother, Dawn Johnson, it was a good experience because he had to overcome adversity while being away from home.

“It really built his character and made him a stronger person mentally,” she said.

Coming from the “basketball country” of Indiana, Johnson saw a great fit in North Carolina, another strong basketball state, at N.C. State to play for Sidney Lowe.

“With [coach] Lowe’s playing experience and my strong relationship with [assistant coach Larry] Harris, I thought I would have a better chance to achieve my goals and grow as a player,” Johnson said.

The chip on Johnson’s shoulder has continued to grow since high school, and he said he’s ready to overcome the adversity with his play on the court. His jersey number, 13, is a constant reminder of the struggles and pain he has gone through.

“Thirteen is a number that most people shy away from because they consider it unlucky,” Johnson said. “This number represents the trials and tribulations from my past.”

Parker said, regardless of the number, if he had to choose one person to play with it would be Marques.

“He’s a ride-or-die type of person and teammate who you can always count on no matter the situation,” Parker said.