NCAA Basketball Recruiting: 2020 Jalen Johnson heating up across the nation
One of the top-10 NCAA basketball recruits in the class of 2020, it is no surprise that Jalen Johnson’s recruitment is heating up. Where do things stand?
2018 recruiting classes are almost completely set around the country 2019 classes are building by the day but one of the hottest recruits in the country is still entering just his junior year of high school. Class of 2020 recruit Jalen Johnson has been making headlines everywhere over the past couple of weeks and rightfully so. The 6’7″ wing has been dominant in just about every game he has played and he is living up to the hype of being the No. 8-ranked player in the class (247Sports Composite).
In just a matter of weeks, scholarship offers have been extended to Johnson from around the country. Schools such as Wisconsin, Florida, Butler, Marquette, Purdue, LSU, and West Virginia are all among the 16 offers he already has. For how early it is in the recruitment of 2020 players, this is remarkable. It is clear that Johnson is a hot commodity on the market and he could be a program-defining recruit.
Who is currently leading the way?
One of the top high schools to ever come out of America’s Dairyland, 247Sports lists three schools as “warm” in regards to snagging Johnson: Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Duke. Considering the Tar Heels and the Blue Devils are yet to extend offers, all six of the crystal ball predictions trend in the way of the Badgers.
This would be a major recruiting win for Wisconsin if they were able to snag Johnson. The program has struggled to secure commitments from the top in-state recruits in the past and this could be an awesome change in that regard. Should the commitment occur, Johnson would go down as the second-best recruit on 247Sports’ list of all-time Wisconsin commitments, behind only Brian Butch (class of 2003). A potential one-and-done player, Johnson could be the player that launches Wisconsin into the elite of college basketball programs in terms of recruiting.
However, it is never easy to win a recruiting battle of the likes of UNC and Duke. Should they extend offers, which they most likely will, then this could get very interesting. In addition, it is still very early in the recruitment of 2020 athletes and seeing other schools pursue Johnson in the near future would not be a surprise whatsoever.
According to 247Sports’ Brian Snow, Johnson has not set up any visits nor has he figured out when he will make a commitment.
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What does Johnson bring to the table?
If everything counted as an answer to this question, that would be it. He is getting stronger with each year that passes and he is already an athletic 6’7″ wing. Adding this physicality to his game has made him even more dangerous in his ability to attack the basket. Considering he still has two years of high school ball left, it is reasonable to himself his body will continue to fill out.
He is dangerous scorer both inside and out while posing issues for defenders with his playmaking abilities. Johnson is polished as a passer for a wing and can play the point when necessary. His versatility on the offensive end is extremely hard for opponents to defend and for his peers to match up with.
According to WSN, Johnson led his school, Sun Prairie, to its first-ever appearance in the State Tournament. Along the way, the team went 25-2 and was led by Johnson’s 18.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Johnson is playing for Phenom University this summer on the EYBL circuit.
Next: Potentially influential 2018 recruiting classes
Johnson will be an impact player no matter where he decides to go to school. He is a legitimate professional prospect who could spend limited time in college. With that being said, he is a talented player who will look to make his impact at the collegiate level. It is still early for members of the 2020 class to make commitments but many schools will be eager to receive a verbal from Johnson.