Johnson talks about four programs
Nick Johnson plans to keep his recruitment wide open through the July evaluation period and the Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep shooting guard said all programs that have offered are still under consideration but that a few are standing out.
Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect, said Arizona, Louisville, Oklahoma State and St. John's have made the biggest impression on him so far. Arizona State, Gonzaga, Ohio State, Oregon State, Pepperdine and Virginia Tech have also offered.
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"I pretty much have whoever is recruiting me right now that I want so I'm going to keep on playing through the summer and then after Peach Jam I'm going to narrow down my list," Johnson said earlier this week at the NIKE EYBL Tournament in Hawthorne, Calif.
"None are for certain right now. The schools that have been on me the hardest are U of A, Louisville, Oklahoma State, St. John's, some schools like that have a pretty good chance. Pretty much everybody that's recruiting me is in it."
St. John's is an interesting school and more Southern California prospects are mentioning the Red Storm now that Steve Lavin, the former UCLA coach, has taken over the program. His visibility from being an ESPN college basketball commentator also helps Lavin in recruiting.
"Coach Lavin is a pretty cool guy," Johnson said. "I knew him from ESPN and everything like that. He's got a good opportunity coming into St. John's. They did pretty good in the Big East Tournament so he's got some good tools."
Louisville is in the running because Johnson said he likes coach Rick Pitino and the Cardinals' longstanding tradition. Oklahoma State has been recruiting Johnson for a while and playing for coach Travis Ford intrigues him.
Arizona might have the best thing going with coach Sean Miller, assistant Archie Miller and the rest of the Wildcats' staff. It seems Johnson, who plays with the Drew Gooden Soldiers AAU team, has gravitated toward that program a little more than others.
"The Millers are great people, they're cool dudes and great recruiters," Johnson said. "I've had the chance to build a great relationship with all the staff there throughout the year so they're really cool there."