Scouting and Highlights: Deante Johnson (2018)
Deante Johnson is a 6’8″-6’9″ junior center for Detroit Edison. He was a bright spot in their 56-42 loss to Ann Arbor Pioneer. He’s a top 25 in the state for the class of 2018 and rightfully so. His long…
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Continue ReadingDeante Johnson is a 6’8″-6’9″ junior center for Detroit Edison. He was a bright spot in their 56-42 loss to Ann Arbor Pioneer. He’s a top 25 in the state for the class of 2018 and rightfully so. His long arms help him rebound and block shots effectively. He’s capable of dribbling and bringing the ball up the court, which is valuable for a big guy. He did all of this and some against Pioneer. Although Pioneer pulled away in the end, Johnson helped keep his team competitive throughout the first three quarters.
Johnson has the ability to play mid major D1 at the very least. He already has an offer from Toledo, and more mid major offers will come, with a potential for high major offers if he continues to perform at a high level.
Here’s my take on Johnson’s game:
Strengths:
Agility – For a big man, Johnson is very mobile. He can dribble the ball up court and change directions just as quick as a guard. He can defend on the perimeter, as well as come all the way across the lane to block a shot.
Hustle – Johnson was seen diving on the floor multiple times in his game against Pioneer. He finished with 3 steals, which helped him generate easy fastbreak opportunities for him and his team. In addition to the steals, he was hustling after rebounds and to helpside. This is a skill that you can’t teach, so for him to possess it gives him an edge over other big guys.
Shot Blocking – Long arms, quick feet, and decent athleticism help Johnson block shots well.
Ball Handling – Solid handles for a big guy. It’s rare that a kid can be so mobile and so coordinated at 6’9″. He already has the ability to rebound a shot and take the ball up the court himself; if he were to focus on improving his handles and playmaking ability to an elite level, he could become unstoppable.
Areas For Improvement:
Strength – He’s very skinny and light for 6’9″. He’s only a junior, so there’s plenty of time to add muscle and weight. However, if he wants to be a force at the next level, he’s going to need to put some weight on.
Free Throws – In the game against Pioneer, he went 0-7 from the line. He doesn’t appear comfortable shooting free throws.