Two weeks ago, I wrote an article about Williamsport native Treyson Potts. The University of Minnesota stud running back had been tearing it up. This all came to an abrupt end. Potts suffered an undisclosed injury serious enough to keep him hospitalized for six days. The details were very hush-hush, and Coach PJ Fleck talked about his star at his weekly press conference.

“Do I expect Trey to play the rest of the year?” Fleck answered. “No. And I’m not going to get into the extent of his injury, just like our other players; that’s up to him and his family. Unfortunately, we’re not going to have Trey. But again. It is so important that he is doing better, and he is back in Minnesota.”

Fleck declined to reveal any specifics. Potts left the field late in the fourth quarter. He didn’t show any signs of major trouble. The medical staff determined that Potts immediately needed to go to the hospital. It obviously became a scary situation. Athletic Director Mark Coyle and team doc, Dr. David Jewison, stayed in Indiana. Potts was later discharged after a lengthy stay and recently returned to Minnesota. Crazy.

I reached out to Trey and his family. Do I know them well? No. But they all responded. I will always keep a screenshot of the text that I sent. Treyson Potts loved my little note and replied with a thumbs up. At the time, Potts was second in the Big Ten with an average of 110.4 rushing yards per clip. He finished the year with 552 yards on 112 carries. Potts took most of the snaps after week one when the Gophers lost Mo Ibrahim for the year with another injury. Speedy recovery, kid. We are all thinking of you.

Alize Johnson appears to have found a new home. Johnson was released by the Brooklyn Nets and was later picked up by the Chicago Bulls. Alize has been playing great ball, and he is doing all that he can to earn a final roster spot. The former St. John Neumann standout has spent most of his time in the G LEAGUE, and he has appeared in 49 games across three NBA seasons. Alize has always flown under the radar, but his motor and rebounding numbers are gaining some intriguing comparisons.

AN ESPN columnist said that Alize Johnson totally reminds him of a new age Dennis Rodman. He backed up his claim with some impressive statistics. Johnson is averaging 8.7 points and 10.3 rebounds in just 15.9 minutes. He is also shooting an incredible 71.4% from the field for the Bulls. Alize is getting some time as a backup center and an active four. He is making the most of his opportunities, and he is gaining some love.

“I have a lot of respect for Alize,” Coach Billy Donovan stated. “He’s in there battling with the bigs on every single possession. How does this kid come down with so many rebounds? He has a great motor and a tenacious attitude. Alize has done this at every level. That’s what he brings to the table. Size isn’t a concern. He might not be a rim protector, but he does so many other things.”

Alize had his best performance on Sunday night. He scored 14 points and pulled down 11 boards in a very limited time. Johnson was five for six from the floor in the Bull’s preseason matchup with the Cleveland Cavs. Some of his highlights made the cut on ESPN.

“I’m fine where Coach Donovan puts me,” Alize told reporters. “I’m just going to go out there and compete. I don’t care what position I play. I will do whatever it takes to help this team win.”

Alize Johnson continues to impress. I just replaced my Brooklyn Nets swag with some new Chicago Bulls gear. I love the comparisons to Dennis Rodman. He has always been one of my favorite players. Hopefully, Johnson will earn one of the final roster spots. The kid has been busting his tail for the past four years, and he deserves a shot. Keep it up, Zay. To be continued. Cheers.