Calumet’s Johnnie Hudson IV was in such a zone, he believed he had eclipsed the half-century mark.
In fact, the 6-foot-5 senior guard/forward had scored 48 points. But he did break the Warriors’ single-game record that had stood for more than a half-century.
“It actually means a lot because I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do it,” Hudson IV said. “In that game, it just felt like everything was going good. I thought I had more than 50. But 48, that’s still good for me.”
Hudson IV’s scoring record, which topped the previous best of 45 points from 1967, included the winning basket as time expired in the Warriors’ 80-79 overtime victory against Calumet Christian on Monday and is among the highlights in his stellar season.
Hudson IV, who is averaging a team-high 25.3 points, a team-high 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and a team-high 1.8 blocked shots, then scored 30 points in Calumet’s 55-51 Greater South Shore Conference loss to Illiana Christian on Thursday to surpass 1,000 for his career.
This is only Hudson IV’s third season of organized basketball. He was cut as a freshman at Avon and then moved to live with his father, Johnnie Hudson III, who is in his 10th season as an assistant for the Warriors (4-14, 2-5).
Obviously, Hudson IV has been growing since he made his debut as a sophomore, including literally. He’s more than an inch taller this season. He also ranks eighth in the state in scoring, according to MaxPreps, after averaging 10.1 points and 4.4 rebounds as a sophomore and 15.5 points and 7.9 rebounds as a junior.
“It’s just confidence, discipline and putting work in night in and night out, getting in the gym two hours before everybody with morning practices, just staying consistent,” Hudson IV said.
“It’s just staying grounded, disciplined, coach holding me accountable to be the leader. I know I’m an extension of him, so I always try to give my teammates motivation. Even though we’ve been losing more than we want to this season, I’m still trying to keep them engaged and involved.”
Calumet coach Aaron Mercer isn’t really surprised by Hudson IV’s success.
“What makes it special for me, he’s the first one in the gym, he’s the last one to leave,” Mercer said. “He comes in and puts up hundreds of shots before our games. It’s no coincidence the way he plays. He prepares for it. It’s not, ‘He’s just out here and it happens.’”
That makes an impression on Hudson IV’s teammates.
“He’s definitely a leader,” Mercer said. “He’ll tell the kids things, and they’re receptive to it. He tells them what they’re doing wrong, and they listen because they see how hard he works. You start getting other kids coming in and doing the work. They see the results. It’s not by mistake.”
Mercer said Hudson IV, the team’s lone captain after he shared that role last season with standout point guard Eric Allen, has influenced players such as senior guard Colby Williams with his approach.
“I’m proud of him,” Williams said of Hudson IV. “I feel like I can’t do nothing but clap. Every great game he has, I just give him a round of applause. He’s taught me so much. Just being with him from my sophomore year to my senior year, he taught me so much about the game, about sportsmanship, everything.
“He’s definitely a great player, a great all-around player. He does everything.”
Calumet’s Johnnie Hudson IV (21) looks to pass the ball during a nonconference game against 21st Century in East Chicago on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune)
Colleges have started to take notice. Hudson IV received an offer from Calumet College in December, and other schools have been keeping tabs on him.
“He’s getting some college looks, and he’ll get some more before the time’s over,” Mercer said. “This is only his third year of playing organized ball. His upside is very high.
“It’s smaller schools right now, but we’ll see. There’s some Division I schools that have definitely shown interest. He’s a straight-A student. He doesn’t get into any trouble. There’s a lot to like about him.”
Hudson IV said the recruiting process has been “slow right now,” but he likes the direction he’s headed.
“I’m proud of myself, the accolades I have,” he said. “But I just think to myself, ‘I have to keep working and putting in the same work, putting up the same shots that I do.’
“I’m trying to keep my name in the conversation and get my name out there so I can get more exposure.”
