WATCH: Myles Johnson Talks Adjusting to UCLA, Emphasis on Education

After transferring from the Big 10 to the Pac-12, Johnson brings an immediate defensive boost to the Bruins down low.

UCLA men’s basketball center Myles Johnson talks to reporters about being integrated into the team after transferring from Rutgers and how he’s worked with the Bruins’ coaching staff since arriving in Westwood.

MYLES JOHNSON

Working on free throws and conditioning?

Oh yeah, definitely over throughout the summer, those were my points of emphasis. Playing the bit of college I have, those are areas I just need to improve on and coming here, working with Wes, getting extra conditioning, working with coach Lew, working and making sure my form and everything's good. So it definitely has been my point of emphasis and I have seen some great improvement.

Electrical engineering degree?

Yeah, electrical computer engineering from Rutgers. I have it at home, actually, I framed it.

Taking grad courses?

Yeah, I'm in the grad program here for electrical computer, focusing on embedded systems and circuits.

Weight or strength changes since arriving?

Oh yeah, definitely throughout Rutgers, I did a lot of normal-type strength lifting and stuff. But more of the focus here was a lot of – for one, I had flexibility issues, so just being more flexible actually helps a lot with running, you get better strides like that, so working on that. And then definitely just getting more running on the treadmill, doing a lot of bikes, we have ??? climbing here, which I really hadn't experienced, but that definitely helps a lot with conditioning and your endurance. So those are two things – well, a couple things that help me just being able to get up and down the floor more, not get tired as fast, be able to last longer on the court.

Savino help with post game?

Oh, coach Savino's been a great help, he's the leader of the bigs. And he's a great guy, we've had a bonding already. And he's done a lot with post moves and making sure that I keep my back to the basket. And it really helps a lot cause if you put the ball up, anyone can come block it if you have a certain spot, but using your body to protect the basket has been the biggest thing he's taught me and stuff like that. So that helped me in the game, trying not to get my shot blocked and finish more shots.

Where'd you watch UCLA-Gonzaga from?

I watched it from home cause we lost to Houston and then they get you right out of there cause the way the bubble's set up. So we headed back to New Jersey and after that, we were kinda done with school. I had my capstone project but everything else was virtual so we were free to go home. So after that, I kinda just watched from my house. And after you lose, it's all you really can do, just watch the rest of the games, so it was a very amazing game. The outcome wasn't what everybody expect but I think it was still a good game to watch.

The shot?

Oh yeah, it was definitely a March Madness moment and that's kinda what everyone watching the tournament, you expect some crazy shot like that every year, so it's just that was the moment of the year.

Internship this summer?

Yeah, I interned for IBM, started in February, ended a week before school started, kind of mid-September. And yeah, it was a really good time, got to experience a little bit of industry life, networked, met a lot of good people and kinda just helped me narrow down what I want to specifically focus on in the grad program.

Time spent with Riley in two-man offense?

Yeah, yeah, we played – there's been a couple lineups where me and Cody ran at the same time and definitely we kind of space the floor together and don't want to stand next to each other. So been working on he's kind of out more, I'll be in more and kind of like high-low type action where you have two big players and stuff like that. Cody's really versatile and he's able to spread the floor, so that's really good for him and good for me cause then I have more room to operate. 

Follow Connon on Twitter at @SamConnon
Follow All Bruins on Twitter at @SI_AllBruins
Like All Bruins on Facebook at @SI.AllBruins
Subscribe to All Bruins on YouTube

Read more UCLA stories: UCLA Bruins on Sports Illustrated
Read more UCLA men's basketball stories: UCLA Men's Basketball on Sports Illustrated