Prospect Spotlight: Zach Johnson (2019)
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When we talked with Bay City Elite 17U coach Matt Durrell about his 17U squad earlier this month, he mentioned 6-foot-6 forward Zach Johnson was a Draymond Green-like player.
We at Prep Hoops became intrigued.
After speaking with Johnson, he indeed confirmed, that his versatile style of play — on both sides of the ball — is certainly what his game is predicated on.
“My strength is inside scoring, I can finish around the rim with both hands. And high-post, when I can attack the rim from a drive and hit a floater. And if I have a smaller guy on me, I can post them up,” said Johnson.
“Defensively, I’m very good at guarding bigger players. But growing up, I’ve guarded a lot of guards in high school, and I can guard the other team’s best player on the perimeter.”
A Lick-Wilmerding product, Johnson was playing well last season before a torn meniscus sidelined him midway through the season.
He played in 15 games with the Tigers, they were 15-0 when he was on the floor. Johnson was cleared to play again this summer.
“I’m looking to come back my senior year and have a big impact with my team,” said Johnson. “I’m going to be taking on a much bigger role.”
This weekend, Johnson and his Bay City Select 17U squad will be in Las Vegas playing in the Fab 48. It’s the last AAU weekend of the summer, and it’s one final opportunity for the class of 2019 to show out in front of college coaches at a live period event.
“We want to go out with a bang. We want to win the tournament. We want to to see if we can get our names out there during this last AAU tournament,” said Johnson.
There’s been some D2 and D3 coaches that have been showing Johnson some love so far in his recruiting process.
He says that his game might me best suited for a D3 program, and he likes the high academic ones that have been recruiting him so far.
“I’ve been talking to a bunch of D2 coaches, and because my school is very academically focused. I’ve been talking to a lot of high academic D3s,” said Johnson.
He mentioned Vassar, Williams, Oberland and Colorado College has programs that are pursuing him the most.
And he could be making a college decision very soon.
“With my skill-set, and my style of play, Division 3 schools and programs, I think I fit into those systems a little bit better,” said Johnson.
“I’m hoping to make a decision by the middle of September.”