New York City Forward Staying Home

Darren Johnson, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound power forward from Lincoln High School in Yonkers, New York, has verbally committed to Manhattan, Rivalshoops.com has learned.

Johnson is expected to sign a letter of intent with the MAAC program this week. Other schools who had expressed interest in Johnson included Buffalo, Maine, and Rider. A number of schools had stayed in contact with Johnson to keep tabs on his academic situation before Darren made his decision.

Johnson still needs to boost his SAT score in order to become eligible for Division I play. It remains to be seen whether or not Johnson will go the Proposition 16/48 route if he does not reach that standard, or whether he will head to prep school, which was originally a consideration.

Darren is a hard-working post player with a solid frame. Johnson, who played with the CAS Warriors on the AAU circuit, was a relative unknown entering last summer. He was able to improve his stock and gain some notoriety on the camp and AAU circuit. Johnson was a bit of a darkhorse, even in the New York City Metropolitan area.