Wednesday marked National Signing Day across the Northland, and among the schools participating in the festivities was Duluth Marshall. They honored five Hilltoppers taking their talents to the collegiate level.

“It’s one thing to be a great student-athlete at Marshall, to be a Hilltopper, but speaking on behalf of the faculty and staff at Marshall, we’re even more proud of them as students first,” Athletic Director Kevin Snyder said.

Those signing to play baseball were Max Berrisford with St. Thomas, and Owen Marsolek with Western Kentucky. Anna Hron will play lacrosse for UW-Stout, while Nina Thorson will be suiting up for the Hamline women’s hockey team. Brooks Johnson is heading just down the road to compete for the UMD men’s basketball team.

“First off, I’d just say it was Coach Wieck and their entire coaching staff, they’ve built winning culture in the last five years. Then, just being in my hometown. I’ve been going to their camp since, what, fifth, sixth grade. They’ve always just shown a tremendous amount of love towards me, always supported me. And in the end, I feel like that’s the best place for me to succeed,” Johnson said.

When asked what he would need to do to succeed at UMD, Johnson said this: “Biggest adjustments that I got, got to learn how to play better defense. Go look at any of Wieck’s teams, they guard, I need to work on defense.”

Last season Johnson led the Hilltoppers averaging over 32 points, six rebounds and four assists a game. His younger sister is Duluth Marshall girls basketball standout Chloe Johnson.