Jamal Johnson continues to improve game as junior
Hoover (Ala.) Spain Park guard Jamal Johnson has been a highly recruited prospect for a while now, but he’s continued to produce in a big way so far in his junior year. He’s helped Spain Park get out to 13-6 start playing a tough schedule, and he’s averaged 18 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists along the way.
Alabama, Georgia, UAB, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Ole Miss, Stanford, Harvard and Auburn are the schools heavily in the mix for the four-star prospect.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Johnson took recent visits to Ole Miss and Auburn.
Ole Miss: “It was great. They went into a drought and then came back and won on a game-winner by Stefan Moody. They have the new arena and that was really nice. I got to meet more of the coaches.”
Auburn: “That was a good visit too. Coach (Bruce) Pearl invited our whole team. We all just hung out and watched the game. We went into the locker room after the game and hung out with everybody. It was fun.”
Johnson plans to see Alabama, Georgia and Vanderbilt soon on unofficial visits.
Vanderbilt: “I like the way they play. I like their guard, Wade Baldwin. I like the way he plays. I like Coach (Kevin) Stallings. I’m going up there when they play Kentucky.”
Georgia: “I need to figure out a time to get up there when I don’t have a game. Coach (Philip) Pearson is recruiting me over there. They have a really good program too. They have a good post player and they have some shooters too. They play with a lot of freedom. They are real balanced and I like that.”
Alabama: “They are playing a lot more fast-paced than they used to. Coach (Anthony) Grant didn’t play as fast as they do now. Coach (Antoine) Petway comes to a bunch of games. I like the way they are playing now. They are doing really well.”
Harvard and Stanford are the most recent schools to get involved in Johnson’s recruitment.
Harvard: “Coach (Tommy) Amaker calls me sometimes. I never thought I was smart enough to get into Harvard. I guess he saw me play in the summer. They have really good guard play and I think he was a guard himself so he can help me out.”
Stanford: “My dad knows Johnny Dawkins real well and he’s a really good coach. I’m thinking highly of them right now too.”
WHAT'S NEXT
Johnson seems focused on his junior season right now, but also appears to be locked in on getting more familiar with the schools recruiting him by taking visits. He says a decision will come during his senior year.
RIVALS' REACTION
Smart money right now is probably on one of the SEC schools to eventually the Rivals150 guard. Alabama is getting more serious with him lately and his father played for the Crimson Tide. Auburn has a commitment from his teammate Austin Wiley. Georgia, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt have also been working him hard hoping to pry him out of Alabama.