On March 19, Westminster Academy alumnus Chase Johnston scored the game-winning basket as No. 12 High Point University stunned No. 5 University of Wisconsin, with an 83–82 victory in the first major upset of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
High Point erased a double-digit second-half deficit and took its first-ever NCAA Tournament win in its second tournament appearance. The defining moment came with 11.7 seconds remaining. After Wisconsin missed a go-ahead layup, Rob Martin secured the rebound and delivered a full-court pass to Johnston, who finished a breakaway layup to give High Point an 83–82 lead.
Notably, the basket marked Johnston’s first made two-point field goal of the season, an ironic and fitting moment for a player known almost exclusively for his three-point shooting. After delivering the decisive play, Johnston reflected on the moment through the lens of his faith, “I was just praying, ‘Lord, let us shock the world.’”
High Point’s defense secured the win in the final seconds. Moments after the final buzzer, Johnston pointed not to himself, but to his faith.
“First and foremost, I want to give all glory to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Johnston said. “This team is built on John 15:13 — we serve each other, we love each other, and we’d give everything for each other.”
Johnston, a 6-foot-3 graduate guard wearing No. 99, has built his role as a perimeter specialist, climbing to 415 career three-pointers — surpassing Stephen Curry’s total at Davidson and placing him among the top shooters in Division I history.
Johnston’s path to this moment has been marked by perseverance. After hip surgery earlier in his college career, he considered stepping away from basketball before returning with a renewed sense of purpose.
Johnston etched his name into the national record books in 2019, setting a new national high school boys’ record with 546 career three-pointers. Johnston also played a vital role in Westminster Academy’s sustained success in basketball, contributing to their fourth consecutive State Final appearance and securing their third consecutive State Championship. Westminster Academy is only the second school in Broward County to claim a state championship three-peat.
Reflecting on his time as Johnston’s varsity men’s basketball coach for six years at Westminster Academy, Coach Ehren Wallhoff states, “Chase was an instrumental part of the success of our state run and three state championships during his time here. He is a true competitor and winner who always had a work ethic that couldn’t be matched, which ultimately continued into his collegiate career, where he continues to win and make an impact both on and off the court. I am proud of how he’s continued to live out his faith while competing at the highest level.”
Johnson is a graduate of Westminster Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a ministry of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. In addition to Johnston, Westminster Academy has two other alumni competing in this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament: Jaylen Carey, class of 2023, playing for the University of Tennessee; and Alex Lloyd, class of 2025, playing for the University of Florida.
The Westminster Academy basketball program has long been a cornerstone of the school’s championship athletic tradition. Founded in 1971, Westminster Academy has developed a reputation for excellence across athletics, combining competitive success with a Christ-centered, biblically-based college preparatory education.
Through programs like men’s basketball, Westminster Academy continues to develop not only championship athletes, but young men and women prepared to lead and impact the world for Christ.
Blake Matthews serves as director of marketing and communications for Westminster Academy