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AJ Johnson, the highest out there prospect in highschool basketball, has dedicated to Texas, he instructed ESPN on Monday.
Johnson, ESPN’s No. 25-ranked participant within the 2023 highschool class, was the lone top-40 prospect to announce the place he’ll be enjoying subsequent season apart from Bronny James, who ranks No. 34.
Johnson picked Texas over gives from Louisville, LSU, NC State, Kansas, Tennessee, USC and G League Ignite, amongst others.
“I selected the school route as a result of I wish to win a nationwide title earlier than reaching the following stage,” Johnson mentioned. “The publicity I will obtain enjoying on TV on a regular basis will assist my total model.”
A late-bloomer who solely entered the dialog as a five-star prospect this previous summer season after a powerful displaying on the Adidas grassroots circuit, Johnson took benefit of his first invite to a USA Basketball camp in October to make a declare for consideration as the most effective long-term 2023 class member prospect in attendance.
“Through the pandemic I grew round 5-6 inches,” Johnson mentioned. “I labored on my physique and my athleticism kicked in. I saved engaged on my sport and god regarded out with the expansion spurt.”
At 6-foot-6, Johnson has wonderful measurement for a guard, displaying excellent fluidity enjoying off easy hesitation strikes with lengthy strides and demonstrating creativity as a finisher. He assaults the basket along with his head up trying to discover teammates off a dwell dribble, and exhibits promise as an out of doors shooter off the dribble and along with his ft set, giving him a very good framework to construct off as an enormous guard who can deal with, cross, shoot, and excels within the open courtroom. He is but to show 18, making him one of many youthful prospects in his class.
Johnson began the season at Donda Academy, however elected to depart for close by SoCal Academy after anti-Semitic statements made by Donda’s founder, the artist previously often known as Kanye West, triggered the college to be disinvited from a number of distinguished highschool tournaments.
“Donda was cool,” Johnson mentioned. “I used to be upset I needed to depart, however I understood why. All of us constructed a bond there and felt like we did not go there for Kanye, however to truly play basketball. Going via all that was loopy, it was a as soon as in a lifetime expertise for positive.”
Johnson’s dedication offers Texas the No. 8 ranked recruiting class in 2023, after beforehand nabbing top-10 prospect Ron Holland from Duncanville outdoors Dallas.
With projected top-10 draft choose freshman Dillon Mitchell possible off to the NBA, and 6 seniors of their rotation, 4 of whom are out of eligibility on the conclusion of this season, the Longhorns nonetheless have work to do in filling out their roster for subsequent yr, the majority of which is anticipated to happen within the NCAA switch portal.
Texas is off to a powerful begin at 3-0, together with a 93-74 shellacking of then-No. 2 ranked Gonzaga final week. Newly-instated assistant coach Bob Donewald has revamped the Longhorns offense, adjusting Chris Beard’s conventional movement offense in favor of a extra fashionable wide-open drive and kick assault, enjoying on the quickest tempo of Beard’s profession up to now, together with the very best price ever of 3-pointers tried. The Longhorns presently rank 77th in common possession size, per KenPom, after rating 278th and 268th in Beard’s two earlier seasons at Texas and Texas Tech, whereas nonetheless grinding opponents to a halt and possessing the No. 1 protection within the nation.
Johnson says that performed a major position in his determination.
“The revamped Texas fashion was every thing,” Johnson mentioned. “Coach Beard and Coach Terry’s entire pitch to me was enjoying up-tempo and quick and letting their guards rock. Them dropping 2-3 guards subsequent yr additionally was enormous so I can are available in and play and make an impression instantly.”
Jonathan Givony is an NBA Draft professional and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a personal scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and Worldwide groups.
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