Lance Johnson, a senior basketball player at Pike County High School, was named a finalist in the Bryant-Jordan Student Athlete Program and will receive a scholarship to help him pursue his academic goals in the future.

Johnson’s coach at Pike County, Doug Branson, said the award speaks volumes about Johnson and the education system at Pike County high.

“Lance is an awesome young man,and he has great parents that have steered him in the right direction,” Branson said. “He deserves this recognition for his hard work. It also speaks highly of the quality of an education that you can receive at PCHS.”

Willie Wright, principal of Pike County High School, said that Johnson distinguished himself from other applicants due to the nature of his academic and athletic achievement.

In addition to being a contributor on the basketball court, Johnson was also named valedictorian of his class that graduates later this mont.

“Lance really just sold himself,” Wright said. “He works hard in the classroom and on the field of play. He has done well, and set a good example for other students of what can happen if you put the work in.”

Key-note speaker for the ceremony was Barrett Jones, former offensive lineman of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Wright also agreed that the award was a good showcase of the education young people can receive at Pike County High School.

“Lance’s accomplishments show the quality of the education that goes on at Pike County,” Wright said.

The Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Program was created in 1986 by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in conjunction with the Alabama High School Athletic Association. It is supervised by the Board of Directors of the Bryant-Jordan Foundation.

Ninety-six scholarships are awarded annually to deserving high school seniors from schools that are members of the Alabama High School Athletic Association. The program has grown from an $8,000 award program to the present over $800,000.