Two native sons of Utah, the best basketball players the state had to offer the NBA this week, are at a crossroads. They're taking the next step to where the game leads them.
Travis Hansen and Britton Johnsen come from similar paths. Both took up the game in grade school. Both played on highly competitive AAU teams. Both were high school and college stars. Both are married. Both served LDS missions. Hansen spent a year at Utah Valley State College out of Mountain View High School and experienced the loss of his mother. Johnsen has suffered physical ailments that run from the routine to the bizarre.
Both had their moments terrorizing Mountain West Conference foes. Both helped earn league championships and individual honors. On Thursday, Atlanta drafted Hansen No. 37 in the NBA draft. That same day, Orlando Magic coach Doc Rivers called Johnsen and invited him to try and make his team.
Four high school kids and nine foreigners were judged better than these two local guys. Still, the game has been good to these Beehive State stars.
For a judgment, we turn to two fathers, Scott Hansen of Provo and Fred Johnsen of Murray.
To this point, what has hoops given their sons?
Fred Johnsen: "Britton's opportunity has been more unique than most because he's had many opportunities." Those include exposure to different cultures and ethnic groups, travel abroad and to many of the nation's big cities where he learned to blend with inner-city personalities.
"It's made him more tolerant and understanding of others; it's given him a more well-rounded exposure to life, to how others live and believe. It's opened his eyes, made him learn how to give and take. It's made Britton a better man."
Physical challenges have made Britton a patient man. "He's had a tooth kicked out. He broke a foot when Shawn Bradley stepped on it during a scrimmage. He's had several knee surgeries, thumb surgery and a bad case of mono."
These scourges helped Britton develop patience, perseverance and better prepared him for the ups and downs life will deal him, Fred said. "He's learned to keep a positive attitude until things get better. It will serve him well in life."
The son, said father Fred, is also grateful. "He recognizes he has a God-given talent that all do not have. He doesn't see himself as somebody superior, but lucky."
Scott Hansen: "Travis loves people. Basketball gave him a chance to show it. He's enormously popular and makes friends quite easily. It's helped him in basketball because he loves his teammates and coaches. He gets along with others. He's found a way to approach people and fix things. He could go to teammates or coaches and get things done.
"Coach Steve Cleveland would tell you he was not only a leader, but not a problem and players could talk to him as well as the staff. It's been that way at Mountain View, UVSC and BYU. After he was drafted, many of his teammates and former coaches called and felt they had a piece of it."
Basketball made Travis Hansen work, said his father. "Nothing was ever handed to him. His coach, Rob Cuff, early on made him work hard. So did Jeff Reinert (UVSC), Cleveland and his assistants Dave Rose and Heath Schroyer. They made him pay the price and realize there are no shortcuts. With two minutes left with the game on the line, it's those who paid the price who can step up and make things happen.
The hard work gave Travis tremendous confidence, said Scott. "Because he works hard, he feels he can get the job done."
Like Fred, Scott believes the opportunity to play for an education has been a blessing. "Travis loves to have fun and school has never been fun for him. But he's worked hard, learned and after 30 hours of community service at a health clinic, he'll have his degree. That is a big blessing because he may be street smart, but he also knows the degree will give him dividends."
From junior leaguers to professionals, what do these dads advise their sons today?
Fred: "To keep it all in perspective. There's more to life than basketball, a childhood game. It would be nice to do it for a living, but develop other talents and interests and be well-rounded — stay positive."
Scott: "I've learned to be an effective father, the less I've said the better. My wife taught me the best thing I could do is just love him and let him know that. I have a lot of confidence in him that he'll do his best from here on out just like he has in the past."
Britton and Travis. The ball still bounces, this time for money.
These two guys are a quarter-century old. This week they take the next step with the game that's dominated almost every part of their growing-up years. The future is uncertain, unclear and unproven. But they've been down that path before.
The dads know.
They've seen the mileposts just whiz right by.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com