Robert Johnson Decision: The Odds

In late July 2012, Robert Johnson was coming off the bench for his DC Assault AAU team and was looking forward to his senior season at L.C. Bird high school just outside of Richmond, VA. At the time VCU and Shaka Smart were coming hard after the local product along with some other mid-majors such as Richmond, JMU, and East Carolina. Just over one year later Johnson is set to decide between Florida State, Indiana, North Carolina, and Virginia. 

As a sophomore in high school, Johnson was known as one of the best shooters in Virginia. He led his L.C.Bird team in scoring and helped them to an appearance in the Virginia state championship where they fell to Florida guard Dorian Finney-Smith and his I.C. Norcom squad 54-45. In the loss, Johnson chipped in 10 points.

During his junior year, Johnson averaged a shade over 18 points per game and topped the 1,000 point mark as he earned all-district first team and All-Metro second team. While his team did not make it back to the state tournament, he did lead L.C. Bird to the regional semi-finals where they fell to Petersburg in a close contest.

After his junior year, Johnson made the choice to play AAU with DC Assault on the Under Armour circuit. He joined up with guards Nate Britt, Roddy Peters, and Nigel Johnson while playing under former Wizards and current Rutgers head coach Eddie Jordan. As both Britt and Peters were ACC bound, Johnson came off the bench during AAU play. Despite not starting, Johnson did have his moments especially when Peters re-injured his shoulder during the UA Summer Jam in Milwaukee. Playing against the Atlanta Celtics, Johnson provided a much needed boost and lit up the 2-3 zone the Celtics were playing. He showed off his shooting touch and was one of the more impressive players in the tournament.

While Johnson had various high majors sniffing around, a crucial decision soon changed his recruiting landscape. Before the 2012-13 school year Johnson transferred to Benedictine, a private school in Richmond. Along with the transfer, he also re-classified grades and played as a junior once more. During this season, Johnson was a key part of a Benedictine team that won the Virginia Independent schools championship. After the championship run, Johnson switched AAU teams as well and joined up with the local Boo Williams AAU squad that plays on the Nike EYBL circuit.

Johnson took the EYBL circuit by storm and went for 17 points in his first game with Boo Williams in L.A. and scored in double figures in all nine games during the first two live April recruiting sessions. Along with his double figure scoring, Johnson also dropped in 22 three’s at a 37% clip.

In late June, the buzz behind Johnson started to swell even more with his performance at the NBPA Top 100 Camp. Going against some of the most talented players in the country, Johnson averaged 10 points per game and caught the attention of most bystanders with his shooting and play at both guard positions.

Back on the AAU circuit in July, Johnson had his coming out party at the Peach Jam in front of every big named coach in college basketball. Playing against one of the title favorites in his first game, Johnson struggled throughout against the Mac Irvin Fire. With his team trailing in the final two minutes, Johnson came alive and scored at will including the go-ahead bucket. While his team was forced to forfeit its games due to the use of an ineligible player, Johnson still showcased his skills over the next four games. In front of Tom Crean and Roy Williams, Johnson went for 22 points a game and hit 16 out of 32 three’s. During the three day stretch, Johnson was one of the top performers and cemented his place as one of the best shooters in the class of 2014.

After careful consideration, Johnson eventually narrowed his list down to a final four and visited each school in a four week period beginning August 24th. Each school has its pros and cons and will make for a difficult decision for Johnson.

Odds:

North Carolina: +140: UNC has vaulted into the top spot over the past few days, but just barely. The school is within a close proximity of the Johnson household and gives Robert a chance to suit up for one of the college basketball blue bloods. He has been pitched on being the shooter the UNC needs to fill out the 2014 class. While UNC needs a shooter, they also already have one point guard and two wing players committed. The playing time issue has to be Johnson’s greatest concern regarding the Heels.

Virginia: +180: Tony Bennett and the Cavaliers are just a stone’s throw away from Richmond, VA. In his short tenure at UVA, Bennett has built a team that has a strong foundation for the future. If he committed, Johnson would be the main piece of the 2014 class to go along with BJ Stith. Ample playing time would await Johnson, but UVA plays at one of the slowest paces in college basketball. For someone that likes to get up and down, is this the type of system that Johnson wants to play in?

Indiana: +220: A few weeks ago it seemed like Indiana was the leader in the clubhouse. After the official visit, Tom Crean and Indiana stood in a great spot, but then Johnson continued on his college tour and the initial shine wore off. Despite being able to feature Johnson as the main recruit in 2014, all signs indicate that Indiana’s bluster has faded.

Florida State: +300: Despite having recruited Johnson the longest of the other three, the Noles come in as the large underdog. Ample playing time would await Johnson down in Tallahassee, but it will be tough for the Seminoles to overcome the prestige of North Carolina and Indiana along with the proximity of Virginia.

2013 Summer Recap

With the travel intensive July recruiting session in the rear view mirror coaches are sending out new scholarship offers and standout players are beginning to trim their lists. In the spring, players such as Myles Turner and Devin Robinson made their mark and ascended up the rankings. While nobody made this type of impact in July, there were still numerous players that benefited from the increased exposure. Here’s a look at a few players that are due significant adjustments in the rankings, along with the top AAU teams, and other noteworthy observations. 

Summer Stock Risers:

Robert Johnson, 6’3”, 2014, SG, Boo Williams

A lot can change in one year. In the summer of 2012, Robert Johnson was coming off the bench for Eddie Jordan and the 17U DC Assault team. He was stuck playing behind future Tar Heel Nate Britt and future Terrapin Roddy Peters. When Peters got hurt in the UA Summer Jam, Johnson came off the bench and displayed his three point stroke in the playoffs. At this point in time VCU and a host of low to mid majors were recruiting Johnson. After transferring to St. Benedictine in Richmond and re-classifying to the class of 2014, Johnson has now made himself into one of the top names in the country. He recently received a scholarship offer to UNC and his list of seven schools includes five ACC schools along with Georgetown and Indiana. 

After scoring 10 points per game at the NBPA Camp, Johnson came out blazing at Peach Jam. He averaged 20.2 points per game and tied for the lead in made three pointers with 18 in five games. He helped Boo Williams pull off a miraculous comeback win over Mac Irvin (before having to forfeit) in their opening game and continued his strong play over the next two days. During the second live session, Johnson suited up for the USA East team at the Nike Global Challenge and averaged 11 points per game in front of all the major D1 coaches. To wrap things up, Johnson hit a few game winning shots down in Orlando to send his team to the Super Showcase Semi-Finals and put a bow tie on the month of July.

In all three weeks, Johnson performed at an elite level and proved to be one of the top scoring guards in country. He is currently rated 85^th by Scout.com but after his play in July he’ll soon rise at an accelerated pace up the rankings.

Reid Travis, 6’8”, 2014, PF, Howard Pulley

Reid Travis - Scarberry Media

After an excellent high school season at De La Salle in Minneapolis, Travis continued his strong play throughout all four EYBL sessions averaging approximately 18 points and 9 rebounds a game. With his strong play, Travis bumped himself into a top 50 player in his class but was not done with his climb. In the Peach Jam, Travis led his team in scoring at 22.8 points per game while shooting a remarkable 65.6% from the floor. After having one of the most impressive individual Peach Jam performances, Travis put up 22 points and 6 rebounds a game at the Global Challenge. If all this wasn’t enough, he dominated in the Super Showcase and played a key part in knocking off the top team in the country (E1T1) in the championship game. 

Travis is a key recruit for new Minnesota coach Richard Pitino and is considered one of the “Big 3” in Minnesota along with AAU teammate Tyus Jones and shooting guard Rashad Vaughn. With his stellar play, Pitino now faces competition from all parts of the country as coaches try to lure him away from Minneapolis. 

Riley LaChance, 6’3”, SG, 2014, Ray Allen Select

Three weeks in July proved that LaChance is one of the best, if not the best outside shooter in the class of 2014. Playing for the Milwaukee based Ray Allen Select, LaChance put up high scoring figures in the Next Level Invitational held at Homestead High in Mequon, WI. LaChance and Ray Allen Select spent week two in July at the same gym, but this time they played against some of the top teams and players in the country. He opened the tournament on fire and finished the tournament the same way. Despite losing in the championship game to DC Assault, LaChance put up 39 points on 15-25 shooting and hit 7-11 three’s. In Las Vegas, LaChance continued his torrid shooting display. While mid majors such as Drake and UC-Irvine were heavily involved in LaChance’s recruitment, the big boys finally started to reach out. He recently received offers from Oklahoma State and Butler and he is set to visit Missouri in the fall. 

Top Teams:

Each 1 Teach 1:

The Florida based Nike team went on a ridiculous win streak and won all of their games in May and July before losing in the Super Showcase championship. While they lost this championship, they did come away with the prestigious Nike EYBL title after an impressive 8-0 run in North Augusta, SC. E1T1’s win streak began in the Dallas EYBL after they added center Trayvon Reed to their starting line-up and Duke bound Grayson Allen as their 6^th man. Point guard Joel Berry ran the show for this team and shooting guard D ‘Angelo Russell picked up his play in July to take home the honors of the best team in the summer of 2013.

DC Assault:

While they didn’t face off against Nike teams, DC Assault certainly won their fare share of championships. In the first live recruiting session in April, they gave up a last minute lead in the championship game of the Pitt Jam Fest. However, in July they were able to take home the UA Summer Jam Championship as well as the Fab 48 title in back to back weekends. Future Terrapin point guard Romelo Trimble led the way as he elevated his play throughout the summer. A tough and experienced team, DC Assault also got help from Byron Hawkins, Rashard Kelly, and Chinanu Onuaku. 

Bad Timing:

Paul White, 6’8”, 2014, F, Meanstreets

Paul White is a tenured veteran as a four year varsity player and two time member of the 17U circuit. He first gained national recognition as a freshman when he received substantial playing time for Whitney Young which featured high flyer Sam Thompson as well as fellow freshman Jahlil Okafor. As a sophomore, White was forced into point-forward duty for most of the season due to a lack of guard play and then began his foray into the 17U AAU circuit. During his junior season, the lanky forward teamed up with a few other well known D1 prospects to form one of the top teams in the country. Despite all of his time in the spotlight, fans, coaches, and analysts were still waiting for Paul White to dominate games. He was always good for scoring in double figures and grabbing rebounds, but never took control of a game like his high school teammates Okafor or L.J. Peak did during the season. 

All that looked to have changed at the start of Peach Jam. In game number two, White went for 22 points and 11 rebounds and then followed that performance up the next morning with 20 points and 10 rebounds. After these performances, the buzz started to grow, but then in a blink of an eye it stopped. One minute into his game with Reid Travis and the Howard Pulley Panthers, White went down and broke his arm as he tried to cushion his fall. After the injury, White went into surgery and is expected to be ready for his senior season with Whitney Young. The past two years White and Whitney Young bowed out early in the Illinois sectionals. If they are to make a state title run, Paul White will need to unleash the beast on a consistent basis. 

Random Musings:

This time last year, the class of 2014 featured Andrew Wiggins, Noah Vonleh, Wayne Seldon, and Dakari Johnson. Despite the reclassifications of these players the top 10 of 2014 is still extremely strong, even without a player that is head and shoulders above his peers. 

Speaking of the 2014 top 10, the Midwest is the place to be. When looking at most rankings, the Midwest area features the top point guard in Tyus Jones (Minnesota), the top shooting guard in Rashad Vaughn (Minnesota), the top power forward in Cliff Alexander (Illinois), and the top center in Jahlil Okafor (Illinois). The area also includes two other players in the top 10 in power forward Trey Lyles (Indiana) and forward Kevon Looney (Wisconsin). 

Tom Izzo and his Michigan State crew are the most active school recruiting the top players in the Midwest as they are heavily recruiting Jones, Okafor, Alexander, and Looney. Despite making multiple visits over the past three years to Minneapolis, Chicago, and Milwaukee there is a good chance that Izzo and the Spartans could be left out in the cold. Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas are all making strong plays for these Midwest players.

The package duo of Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor has long been rumored and discussed. Schools that are recruiting both include Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky, Kansas, Ohio State, and Baylor. Duke has been rumored as one of the front runners to land the package deal and with Coach K’s Olympic connections they have also been rumblings of a three player package which includes Okfaor’s USA teammate Justise Winslow. While Winslow is in the mix for Duke, it might be another Midwest forward in Kevon Looney that is more likely. In Milwaukee, assistant coach Jeff Capel spent the first few days watching Looney and then another assistant in Nate James finished off the trip. In Las Vegas, Coach K was front and center for Looney. Whatever happens in the upcoming months, one can be sure that the majority of these talented Midwest kids will soon be off to other parts of the country.

UA Summer Jam: Names to Remember

Four days down in Milwaukee and the well known teams, players, and coaches are starting to drop like flies. In a day full of playoff action, the stands were light on big name coaches but the games were still competitive. Going into the final day the 17U Final Four has a definite Midwest flavor with three of the four remaining teams all within driving distance of the gym. While there is one day left in the second live recruiting period, here is a look at some names that are a bit under the radar: 

Names to Remember:

Michael Tucker Jr., 6’6”, G, 2017, Atlanta Xpress

One of the few upcoming freshmen playing in the 16U age group, Tucker put on a show in both of his games on Day 4. In the morning he was the team’s leading scorer in a win over Dream Vision. Tucker hit several first half three’s and had impressive lift on all of his outside shots. In his second game against the Wisconsin Playground Warriors, Tucker attacked the basket off the dribble in pick and roll’s and in isolation. He showed nice body control on his drives and appears to be a solid all around athlete. Expect Tucker to make his mark as a freshman at Alcovy High School in Covington, Georgia this year.

Travon Bunch, 6’11”, C, 2014, DTA

Bunch is a long and lean center that is pushing 7 feet. While he did not make much of an impact on the offensive end, he was dominant on the defensive side of the ball. With his team trailing in the second half, Bunch turned the paint into his own personal playground. Anytime a player drove the lane his shot got blocked and anytime a jumper bounced off the rim, Bunch was there to grab it and ignite the fast break. He ended up with six blocked shots and had at least 10 rebounds in the second half. This performance was one of the most impressive non-scoring stretches seen in the tournament so far.

Lamont Turner, 6’2”, PG, 2015, Atlanta Xpress

Turner is a smooth 6’2” point guard that can score and create in a multitude of ways all while playing under control. He helped lead his team to the 16U quarterfinals with his strong play as he routinely hit open jump shots and baskets in transition. On a team stocked with small guards, Turner impressed the most.

Ryan Kreklow, 6’3”, SG, 2015, KC Run GMC

In a big win over Diamond Stone’s Young Legends team, Kreklow put on one of the more impressive shooting displays on day four. He hit four three pointers in the game and scored 18 points in total as he caught fire in the second half when he scored 15 of those points. He hit back to back three’s from the wing to keep the game out of reach and made sure his shooting stroke was on display for the coaches in attendance.

Brevin Pritzl, 6’3”, SG, 2015, WI Playground Warriors

While it’s usually point guard Nick Noskowiak who gets the attention, Pritzl played a key part in a win over the Atlanta Xpress which propelled his team to the final four. He led the way in a close affair and finished with 18 points. Pritzl is a tough guard that can knock down an outside jump shot or throw down a dunk in traffic. A lot of his baskets came in the paint as he exhibited a nice knack for avoiding the taller defenders and finding a basket.

Championship Sunday:

In the 17U Final Four, the Wisconsin Swing take on another Wisconsin team in Ray Allen Select. The Swing won their Sweet 16 match-up on a tip-in and then took apart the Milwaukee Rebels and Kevon Looney. The Swing are led by athletic guard Lamonte Bearden while Ray Allen is led by the shard-shooting duo of Riley LaChance and Reed Trimmer.

The other semi-final features the Iowa Barnstormers vs. DC Assault. The one non Midwest team has been destroying its competition thanks to the strong play from point guard Romelo Trimble. The Barnstormers are a gritty team that needed overtime to advance to the quarterfinals before dismantling the Houston Defenders and top scorer Joe Burton. Wyatt Lohaus leads the way for this team.  

UA Summer Jam: Day 2 Recap

Two days down in Mequon, Wisconsin for the UA Summer Jam and this time the 16U age group got to share the main stage at Homestead High School. On Day 1, the who’s who of college basketball filled the bleachers to watch Cliff Alexander take on Myles Turner and while several big time match-ups occurred it was the young kids that drew the coaches in the morning.

Top Players (16U):

Diamond Stone, 6’10”, 2015, PF/C, Young Legends

photo from NY2LA Sports

One of the top players in the class of 2015 drew the most attention early in the morning on Day 2. For Stone’s game against Dream Vision, he had head coaches such as Roy Williams, Rick Pitino, Tom Izzo, Travis Ford, Buzz Williams, and Bo Ryan front and center. Stone flashed his skills for the coaches and while he struggled at times he still finished with 22 points. He scored off put-backs, on the break, and in post-up situations. While Stone dropped weight this spring, he still has his strength which allows him to overpower opponents in a graceful manner. He didn’t connect on his jump shots in the first game, but nailed a three in his second game against DC Assault. One area that Stone will need to continue to fine as he continues to play in the 16U age group relates to his concentration. He missed on four dunks during the day which should not happen with a player his size and athletic ability. Despite the misses, all of the coaches were imagining how good he would look suiting up for them in two years.

Ray Smith, 6’6”, 2015, G, LV Prospects

In the first game of the day, Smith had UNLV head coach Dave Rice front and center at 8am along with a variety of other west coast schools. Smith is a long and lean wing player with a high arching shot. He didn’t waste any time as he nailed a three to start the game en route to seven first half points. In the second half, Smith helped spur a comeback from double digits with his all around play. He grabbed key rebounds and also dished to cutting teammates when he wasn’t too busy driving to the basket. He had a key assist off of penetration in the remaining seconds of the game before the opponent forced overtime. Smith is a talented wing that can do a little bit of everything and a guy that all the west coast schools would love to have.

Daquan Bracey, 5’11”, 2016, PG, Baltimore’s Finest

Bracey is a jet quick guard that wanted the ball in his hands even though he was the youngest player on the team. He made his mark early on coming off the bench with his quick first step and ability to get by defenders off the dribble. He hit one three in the first half but then turned up his play which led to increased playing time. After a basket by the LV Prospects which put them up two with five seconds left, Bracey went coast to coast for a right handed lay-up that sent the game into overtime. He eventually miss-fired on a three pointer to put the game into a second overtime, but one has to admire his cojones. 

Kani Coles, 6’6”, 2015, SF, Baltimore’s Finest

Playing forward for Baltimore, Coles attacked the offensive boards throughout the game. In the first half he scored 10 points with six of them coming off offensive put-backs. On all the put-backs Coles flew through the air for the rebound before tipping the ball in or going back up for a contested lay-up. He continued his domination on the glass in the second half and created many additional scoring opportunities for his team.  

John Davis, 6’2”, G, 2015, DC Assault

DC Assault went 2-0 on the day with Davis playing a huge role as a key scorer. The combo guard was explosive and strong with the basketball and mixed in outside shots with athletic drives to the basket. In both games, Davis went for double digit points and kept the defense off balance all day long. Upon penetration, if Davis did not have a lay-up he also had enough court vision to find the open man for a lay-up.

Leroy Butts, 6’7”, F, 2015, DC Assault

The senior to be at Bishop O’Connell was the leader of the DC Assault team and led through his stellar play in both the morning and afternoon games. The lanky left-hander showed a smooth touch on his jump shot and excelled in knocking down anything within 15 feet. He also could score in the post and often caused problems on the defensive end when he guarded the other team’s center. The DC Assault team had a variety of east coast college’s at their games with Butts being a major recipient of their attention. 

Nick Blair, 6’4”, SF, 2015, Dream Vision

In an early morning loss to Diamond Stone and the Young Legends, Nick Blair was one of the bright spots for the west coast based AAU team. Blair combined his leaping ability and strength to score off drives to the basket. He also showed off an outside shot connecting on two three pointers. Overall, Blair finished with 18 points and was a tough wing to contain.

Players of Interest (17U):

Daryl Gaynor, 6’2”, 2014, G, LV Prospects

A combo guard out of Nevada, Gaynor played a key role in two wins for the Las Vegas Prospects. His key attribute is his quickness which he showcased frequently in transition. In an up-tempo first game, Gaynor pushed the pace and knifed his way to the basket. In his second game, Gaynor continued to push the pace and put defenders back on their heels. Against Team Loaded – NC, Gaynor went off for 24 points on 10-17 shooting.

TJ Haws, 6’3”, 2014, G, LV Prospects

Gaynor’s back court mate in the two wins was TJ Haws, the star from Lone Peak. With Gaynor pushing the pace, Haws was able to slide over to his more natural shooting guard position. Haws scored 13 points in the first game on 5-8 shooting and 14 points in the second game on 5-10 shooting. During the games he used several basket cuts for right and left handed lay-ups while also draining several smooth looking outside shots. 

DJ Wilson, 6’8”, 2014, SF, Team Superstar

In the morning session against the LV Prospects, DJ Wilson had the college coaches buzzing with his play. Standing at 6’8” with a skinny frame, Wilson showed off a text book jump shot and went 3-3 from behind the line in a strong first half performance. His shot was smooth and effortless with range several feet behind the arc. When pressured Wilson used a pump fake to drive to the basket and finished with a soft floater. A Sacramento native, Wilson could see his stock start to rise after his first game in the tournament.

The Headliner:

Similar to Day 1, there were two top notch individual match-ups going on at the same time. Unfortunately coaches had to choose one or the other as the Cliff Alexander vs. Karl Towns Jr. match up was going on in a side gym, while the Myles Turner vs. Kevon Looney match-up was going on in the main gym. 

Both Turner and Looney had their moments in their match-up, but it was the 5’7” Demontrae Jefferson that stole the show and helped lead his Milwaukee Rebels team to a win. While super athletic, Jefferson can often play out of control and force shots from all over the court. For the most part that wasn’t the case as he went 11-21 for 23 points and dished out six assists. Jefferson got out on the break and finished at the rim time and time again and also ran the pick and roll with Looney and other teammates leaving them with pin point passes for easy baskets. Looney finished 13 points and eight rebounds while Turner scored nine points to go along with nine rebounds. Looney’s offense came primarily off drives to the basket and shots down low, while Turner hit a deep jump shot and turnaround over Looney to go along with two baskets down low. The coaches came for the big men, but were instead treated to highlights from Jefferson.

Other Notes:

Joe Burton scored in the 30’s again as he went for 31 points on 12-20 shooting.

The Utah Prospects put on a rare performance in the afternoon holding ISTI Elite from Houston scoreless in the first half. At halftime, the Prospects had a 28-0 lead behind the shooting of Brekkott Chapman and Jared Stutzman. ITSI featured center Tacko Fall who was listed at 7’5.” He went 1-3 from the field in a 48-12 ball game.