Buck Johnson
Class of 2010
Born January 3, 1964, in Birmingham, Alphonso “Buck” Johnson grew from Hayes High’s 1982 Mr. Basketball under coach Jack Doss into one of the University of Alabama’s all-time greats. From 1983–86 he was All-SEC three straight seasons and twice made the All-SEC Tournament team (1985, 1986). He finished as Alabama’s No. 4 scorer with 1,896 points and No. 8 rebounder with 933 boards, and he brought home a gold medal with Team USA at the 1983 FIBA Junior World Championship.
Houston selected Johnson 20th overall in the 1986 NBA Draft. Across seven NBA seasons (1986–93)—six with the Rockets and one with the Washington Bullets—he appeared in 505 games, totaled 4,617 points (9.2 ppg), and helped Houston reach the playoffs in five of his seven years. His peak came in 1990–91: 82 games, 14.8 points per night, a smooth mid-range game, and two-way versatility that made him a nightly matchup problem.
Johnson then authored a second act overseas, playing 8½ seasons in Turkey, Israel, Spain, and Greece, earning six league All-Star selections and fan-favorite status across Europe. He later closed his playing career with the 2005–06 Birmingham Magicians.
Back home, Johnson has invested in young athletes and programs. He consulted for the Birmingham Athletic Partnership and, in 2014, was hired as athletic director for Birmingham City Schools, where programs expanded and facilities improved before his term ended in 2016. Inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, he remains a visible presence at clinics and community events—and he still credits two early influences: Doss, “like a father to me,” and his grandmother, Callie Echols, who believed before the box scores did.
Family stays central. Buck and his wife, Felicia, have sons Alfonso III, Jamal, and Trey; Jamal graduated from Spain Park and signed with Memphis in 2016. From Hayes to the Tide, the NBA to Europe, Johnson’s résumé—and impact—travels.
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