Recruiting Report: Keldon Johnson (2018)
One of the problems with ranking players so early is that they hardly live up to expectations, and even if they’re good they’re never good enough. That’s what happened to Huntington Prep’s Keldon Johnson, who suffered an ankle injury his sophomore year and when he came back some scouts and coaches weren’t sure he still had it after being ranked a top 25 prospect after his freshman season.
However, Johnson is beginning to quiet those doubts by simply dominating on the court. In the first game of EYBL Season, he exploded for 34 points and 11 rebounds, 27 of those points coming in the second half. With BWSL tied with Nike South Beach at the half, it was only fitting that Johnson took over.
“I just want to be a leader,” Johnson said. “Giving my team more energy and leading them is all I wanted to do. I came out in the second half in attack mode. No one can stop me, that was my mentality in the second half.”
While Johnson’s stock in national rankings may have fallen a little bit, anyone who has watched him over the past year knows that he’s just as special a prospect as he’s ever been. He’s grown to a legit 6’6”, is a master at finishing through traffic and he’s shown a much improved motor on the glass, where he uses his length and quick jumping ability to keep plays alive.
More than anything, he has a competitive fire about him. He plays with energy and wants to not only be the best, but he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win. He’s currently sitting with over 20 division one offers, and if he continues to put on the show he did in the first game those will only continue to grow.
Keldon Johnson is showing he’s one of the country’s elite wings this weekend.With his name buzzing around the gym, Johnson took the time to mention a couple of schools that are recruiting him the hardest.
“I see a lot of coaches at my games,” Johnson said. “Maryland just recently offered and have been talking to me a lot. Along with Texas, they’ve been pretty consistent as well.”
As for when his decision will be made, even Johnson doesn’t know.
“I don’t have a timetable set, I’m just seeing what comes and taking my time, I’m not in a rush to do anything. I just want to go somewhere that will let me play, gets out in transition and helps me flourish as a player.”
This weekend he seems to be locked in, and with good reason. Johnson says he tries not to get too involved in what others say about his stock, but his competitive mindset makes him want to prove doubters wrong this weekend.
“He can do it all,” Johnson said about what he wants people to think after session one. “He’s high major. He’s better than what everyone says he is and he lived up to the hype.”
With two double-doubles to start EYBL play, it’s far from a stretch to believe that people will be saying some of that stuff before the weekend’s over.