Recruiting Report: Javon Swinton (2020)
Two sport athletes are more of the norm in most of Virginia, and with the recent success that big time football programs have had recruiting the Fredericksburg it only makes sense if you’re a big time athlete in that area to play that sport if you want a free education at the next level. North Stafford junior Javon Swinton is trying to be a little different however, as he isn’t sure if he wants to play football or basketball in college, but as a rising junior he’s already starting to see interest for both.
A big time athlete on both the basketball court and the football field, Swinton has excelled as a young prospect as a point guard and as a defensive back and athlete on the field. He already holds offers from UVA and Marshall on the football field, and while he doesn’t have any offers for basketball he’s seeing a lot of interest from division one schools ranging from Oklahoma State, ECU, George Mason to Longwood.
While he already holds an ACC offer in football, Swinton is quick to say that he doesn’t really know, or care, about what sport he plays at the next level, he just wants to be the best at both right now.
“I don’t really have a preference,” Swinton said about which sport he wants to play in college. “I haven’t really been leaning one way or another I’m just going to go with whatever gives me a better chance to be successful.”
Swinton had a big sophomore year for North Stafford who made it to the Class 5 playoffs before bowing out in the regional tournament. This summer, he ran the show for “The Dream,” a non sponsored program who competed at national tournaments against shoe company teams and often beat them. At the Hoop Group Southern JamFest, one of the best tournaments that brings non shoe company teams and shoe company teams together, Swinton was phenomenal, helping lead them to the Final Four before a close loss to Adidas sponsored Team BBC out of Baltimore.
In one of his more impressive games I saw all summer, Swinton controlled the tempo from beginning to end in a win over Nike sponsored Team Durant, and he finished with a game high 19 points. It was a regular thing for Swinton this summer, whether others knew about it or not.
“Sophomore year just showed me pretty much where hard work could get me,” he said. “Freshman year I was more of a role player and this year I emerged as one of the best players in the state and after doing that I just felt like I needed to prove myself on the national level. This AAU season helped me do that and get my recruitment more to where I wanted it to be. It was a very fun and exciting sophomore year and I’m looking to build on that this upcoming season.”
Swinton had a big AAU season with The Dream.A two way floor general, Swinton sets the tone on both ends of the floor and is an easy guy to play with. He’s a great athlete who plays with a chip on his shoulder, and he often leads by example with his grit and tough mindset. He lives in the paint and is able to create for himself and others with the ball in his hands, and he’s a guy who will pick you up full court defensively and make your night terrible as a ball handler.
“I feel my best attribute is the ability to get to the basket and I feel I’m very underrated on the defensive end.”
Despite playing two sports, Swinton has found time to improve in many areas on the basketball court. He’s also been able to change pace and get by defenders off the bounce, and he’s always had a great midrange game, but toward the end of the summer he was showing the ability to knock down shots from deep, something he really needed to work on.
He isn’t done improving either, as he often works on both sports, even in the middle of football season.
“I feel I can get better as an all around player. My shooting ability has improved as well as my speed and strength but most importantly the overall mental IQ of the game.”
Whether he chooses football or basketball, his natural and athleticism and work ethic should have Swinton ready for the next level in a couple of seasons.