John Watson comes from one of Galesburg’s all-time best basketball families. His father (John) was a coach at Costa JH, and younger sister (Molly) and younger brother (Jordan) were both great guards for GHS. If there was a 3 on 3 tourney, they would be a tough family to beat.
John was a great, long range shooter. While the three point arc was in effect at the time he was in high school, the shot was not encouraged the way it is today. Most high school teams in the early ‘90’s might shoot just 5-10 total threes in a game, whereas today they are shooting 15-25 threes per game. John hit 8 threes in a game back then, if he had played in today’s era, one can easily imagine him making 10 or more threes in game.
Massey- What were some of your favorite classes and teachers?
John- My favorite classes and teachers at GHS were Mr. Devine (Physics), Mrs. Eiseman (Math), Ms. Pennington (Spanish), Ms. Hinman (English), Coach Stiles (PE), and Coach Sigel.
Massey- What were some of your early basketball memories?
John- My first memory of GHS basketball goes back to grade school, when I attended a few games to watch fellow Costa alum Mark Junk play. Seeing the GHS gym packed to the rafters with so many Silver Streak fans was awe inspiring for a little kid. Those nights in the gym along with taking trips to Champaign with my dad (who was also my coach at Costa) to watch the IHSA state tournament are what sparked my dream of one day wearing a Silver Streak jersey.
Massey- What were some of your personal highlights and memories?
Hitting the game-winning shot against Moline at Wharton Field House as a junior—a huge confidence boost heading into my senior year.
Beating Rock Island at home and breaking their 29-game conference win streak.
Taking the undefeated, #1-ranked Quincy team down to the wire in their own gym. I’ll never forget how loud it was that night.
Hitting eight three-pointers against Macomb—a record that, to my surprise, still stands nearly 35 years later—remains one of my most cherished memories, made even more meaningful by sharing it with so many friends and family in the stands that night.
Hearing that “Booooooom, baby!”—and never getting tired of it.
Watching Sean Hanlon jump in practice every day; it was truly something to see. I’m pretty sure I remember a referee check his shoes for springs
Helping out at the GHS basketball summer camps. I remember watching the next generation coming up. There was one specific grade school camper who always had a huge smile and made every layup he took. I asked who he was, and someone said, “Oh, that’s Joey—he might be pretty good someday.” That turned out to be quite the understatement.
Another great memory was attending every football game my senior year and watching my buddies battle their way to a one-loss regular season before that heartbreaking snow-bowl defeat to Joliet Catholic. Those guys and their grit inspired the whole town that year and set the tone for our upcoming basketball season.
Massey- What did you do after graduation?
John- The summer after graduation, I had the honor of playing on an Illinois/Indiana all-star team that traveled to China to compete. It was an unforgettable experience for a small-town kid who had never even flown on a plane before.
I then attended Ball State University, majoring in Exercise Science and Athletic Training. My own sports injuries and physical therapy experiences sparked a lifelong interest in sports medicine. Still, the basketball itch remained—so I walked on to the Ball State basketball team. Playing in a Division I game was a dream come true, the perfect ending to a journey that started back in junior high.
After Ball State, I earned a Master’s degree in Sports Medicine at the University of Illinois, followed by SIU School of Medicine. I completed my internship at Michigan State, residency at the University of Colorado, and fellowship in Interventional Spine and Sports Medicine at Washington University in St. Louis.
After training, I spent a year at the University of South Carolina, then the last 18 years in Springfield, Illinois, at the Orthopedic Center of Illinois. My specialty is Physiatry which is a combination of pain medicine, interventional spine and sports medicine and my practice has included spinal injections, nerve testing, and diagnostic/interventional ultrasound.
I recently retired from that position after undergoing two spine surgeries and am now planning out the next chapter in my career.
Massey- What is going on in your life today?
John- I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family. My wife, Lori, is a nurse who has done an amazing job raising our kids.
- My oldest son, Zach, stepped away from basketball after junior high but went on to win an individual state championship in discus (Springfield Christian) and a team golf state championship (Sacred Heart-Griffin High School).
- My second son, Jax, is entering an exciting 8th-grade basketball season and has developed into quite the three-point specialist—go figure!
- My daughter, Lucy, is 10 and currently prefers volleyball to basketball. I might have to call in Aunt Molly for a little motivational talk.
Since my basketball days are behind me, I’ve shifted my passion to golf, which has become my new outlet for competition.
Massey- What advice would you have for current Streaks athletes?
John- My advice to current Streaks would be to enjoy the process and focus on preparation. Preparation is the key to success and its something that has served me well including throughout my medical career. Whether it was open gyms, long practices running sprints, summer leagues at the Carver Center, summer camps at Knox College with Harley Knosher, or shooting in the driveway with Molly and Jordan—it was all part of the preparation.
I’ll never forget the Galesburg community and the tremendous support I felt as a Silver Streak basketball player. The history, tradition, and alumni have instilled in me a deep sense of pride that I still carry with me to this day.
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