'20 TN SG Keon Johnson (Tennessee commit 8.6.19)

#52
#52
Namorto1 said:
Adding both Springer and Johnson would be a dream but doubt both would sign in the same class. Springer is a man among boys in high school and looks like a one and done to me. He can score at every level and is so strong. Johnson’s recent clips literally reminds me of a young Kobe from an athletic standpoint. He was relentless going to the rim. With his length at 2G and James at PG....that would be a big backcourt.
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You find a way to add Springer to the roster if there's a remote chance to get him. You sell Johnson on playing 2G if Springer wants to play point.
 
#54
#54
BruinVol said:
Johnson isn’t a PG anyway and isn’t being recruited as one either
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Exactly. Johnson is probably more of a 3 right now until his shot improves, which I am certain it will with reps in a college program. Barnes has improved Punter, Hubbs, Turner, Bone, Schofield, etc. as shooters. Johnson will be no exception if he puts the work in. He reminds me of a Josh Richardson type at this point in time. JRich played a lot of PG as a SR out of necessity, but it isn't outside the realm of possibility that Johnson could improve his guard skills to the point of being able to give minutes there if needed. It just isn't the ideal fit for him, right now.
 
#55
#55
cncchris33 said:
Exactly. Johnson is probably more of a 3 right now until his shot improves, which I am certain it will with reps in a college program. Barnes has improved Punter, Hubbs, Turner, Bone, Schofield, etc. as shooters. Johnson will be no exception if he puts the work in. He reminds me of a Josh Richardson type at this point in time. JRich played a lot of PG as a SR out of necessity, but it isn't outside the realm of possibility that Johnson could improve his guard skills to the point of being able to give minutes there if needed. It just isn't the ideal fit for him, right now.
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I think the best comparisons are he’s Josh Richardson on D and Robert Hubbs as an offensively player coming out of HS
 
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#56
#56
BruinVol said:
I think the best comparisons are he’s Josh Richardson on D and Robert Hubbs as an offensively player coming out of HS
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Hubbs played in the paint a lot in HS, which really limited his development of his guard skills. I think KJ is a little more advanced in that area, but I see your point.
 
#58
#58
BruinVol said:
Honestly Keon plays in the post a lot in Hs.
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Hmm, most of the highlights I have seen are him playing out on the perimeter and driving to the basket. Can't remember if thise were Webb highlights or AAU highlights though. In any case, he can handle the ball and pass pretty well if he spends the majority of his time in the post for his HS team.
 
#59
#59
cncchris33 said:
Hmm, most of the highlights I have seen are him playing out on the perimeter and driving to the basket. Can't remember if thise were Webb highlights or AAU highlights though. In any case, he can handle the ball and pass pretty well if he spends the majority of his time in the post for his HS team.
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I never saw Hubbs play in hs so it’s not totally fair for me to compare them but there a segments of hs Games where Johnson doesn’t handle the ball all that much. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying he plays with his back to the basket all the time just that he is far from their primary ball handler
 
#60
#60
cncchris33 said:
Exactly. Johnson is probably more of a 3 right now until his shot improves, which I am certain it will with reps in a college program. Barnes has improved Punter, Hubbs, Turner, Bone, Schofield, etc. as shooters. Johnson will be no exception if he puts the work in. He reminds me of a Josh Richardson type at this point in time. JRich played a lot of PG as a SR out of necessity, but it isn't outside the realm of possibility that Johnson could improve his guard skills to the point of being able to give minutes there if needed. It just isn't the ideal fit for him, right now.
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I thought he looked more like a 3 but at 6'5" I thought 2 guard in the NBA. I do agree at this point looks more like a slasher J Rich style.
 
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#61
#61
BruinVol said:
I never saw Hubbs play in hs so it’s not totally fair for me to compare them but there a segments of hs Games where Johnson doesn’t handle the ball all that much. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying he plays with his back to the basket all the time just that he is far from their primary ball handler
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That's not uncommon. Marcus Smart was a post for his HS team in TX but played on the perimeter on the AAU circuit. He actually embarrassed Julius Randle in the paint en route to the state title. He transitioned to PG just fine once he got to Oklahoma State.

Unless these guys are at a prestigious basketball program, a 6'3" D1 level athlete is going to be forced to play the post a lot for the betterment of his team.
 
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#62
#62
BruinVol said:
I never saw Hubbs play in hs so it’s not totally fair for me to compare them but there a segments of hs Games where Johnson doesn’t handle the ball all that much. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying he plays with his back to the basket all the time just that he is far from their primary ball handler
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No, he definitely isn't their PG. He does the handle the ball a lot in the halfcourt though, for obvious reasons, he's their best player. Very good at getting to the basket and finishing at the rim against contact. I haven't seen much evidence of a midrange game like JRich or Hubbs, but that, too, can be developed. I really hope we land him.
 
#63
#63
BreatheUT said:
I thought he looked more like a 3 but at 6'5" I thought 2 guard in the NBA. I do agree at this point looks more like a slasher J Rich style.
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Yeah, he really needs to develop his outside shot if he wants to play in the NBA. At 6-5, he isn't going to play SF in there, so SG is his future. I just don't think we have to talk him out of playing PG. That was never an option, really.

Springer, on the other hand, is more of a combo guard, and while I don't know that I want us to recruit him as our primary ball-handler (I think he's better off the ball), I think he could play at PG if we missed on other guys like Love or Hayes.
 
#64
#64
cncchris33 said:
Yeah, he really needs to develop his outside shot if he wants to play in the NBA. At 6-5, he isn't going to play SF in there, so SG is his future. I just don't think we have to talk him out of playing PG. That was never an option, really.

Springer, on the other hand, is more of a combo guard, and while I don't know that I want us to recruit him as our primary ball-handler (I think he's better off the ball), I think he could play at PG if we missed on other guys like Love or Hayes.
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Who do you think can make a greater impact based on what our roster is shaping up to look like...Springer or Love?
 
#65
#65
BreatheUT said:
Who do you think can make a greater impact based on what our roster is shaping up to look like...Springer or Love?
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Tough call. Springer is bigger and stronger. Love is probably a better passer. Both guys would make an immediate impact. Springer's size and strength might lead to him being a more impactful player, immediately.
 
#66
#66
Top 35 Keon Johnson has been one of the more highly recruited in wings in the South in the 2020 class. Just recently, he decided to trim his long list of schools down to a final three of Ohio State, Tennessee and Virginia. The four-star shooting guard out of Tennessee has already taken official visits to Tennessee and Virginia. He plans to take one to Ohio State at some point in June. He’s hoping to announce a final decision on August 6th.
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Ohio State: “They came in when Coach (Jake) Diebler left Vanderbilt to go there. They have a good program there, but they are just trying to get over the hump. They think I can come in and be a part of helping them get there.”
Tennessee: “It was great. It’s very close to home. Coach Barnes is good with player development and getting players to the League. He’s coached some good players in the League.”
Virginia: “Coach Bennett and his staff are very close together and they are really close with their players. It’s really nice there. Every campus has state-of-the-art technology and facilities, but theirs is just a little above the others.”
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Tennesse and Virginia were two of the schools that have been tracking Johnson, the No. 33 ranked prospect in the 2020 Rivals150, since last summer. Tennessee’s location has been a big help for them as well as Rick Barnes’ track record of developing players and sending them to the NBA. Virginia is obviously coming off a great season with their national championship, but it’s also the relationship Johnson has built with Tony Bennett and his staff that has them firmly in the mix. Speaking of relationships, Jake Diebler recruited Johnson when he was on Bryce Drew’s staff at Vanderbilt and now that has carried over into getting the Buckeyes on Johnson’s final list. Chris Holtmann’s program will have the final chance to win him over when they host him on a visit at some point this month. This is a tight race just two months out from a decision.
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-Rivals
 
#67
#67
Johnson does play a lot (not exclusively, but a lot) in the post for his high school team out of necessity, but I don't think that is true for his travel team. I think for that team he plays more of a 2/3. Definitely not a point guard, but I think the comparison to Hubbs goes a bit too far.
 
#68
#68
Interesting about Ohio state. Now I know how they are in this thing with the Vandy assistant going there
 
#70
#70
admiralkerr said:
Johnson does play a lot (not exclusively, but a lot) in the post for his high school team out of necessity, but I don't think that is true for his travel team. I think for that team he plays more of a 2/3. Definitely not a point guard, but I think the comparison to Hubbs goes a bit too far.
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I’ll say the Richardson comparison might be the best because of how good both were as defenders.

As for Hubbs I’d say the comparison fits with elite leaping ability, very similar rankings and both needed to develop better outside shots in college. Let’s hope Johnson develops his better than Hubbs
 
#72
#72
admiralkerr said:
Johnson does play a lot (not exclusively, but a lot) in the post for his high school team out of necessity, but I don't think that is true for his travel team. I think for that team he plays more of a 2/3. Definitely not a point guard, but I think the comparison to Hubbs goes a bit too far.
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Yeah on the surface I see the comparison to Hubbs situation. But it takes about 1 possession to realize it doesn't equate. I watched Hubbs in high school and even though I read about his "guard ability during AAU" I didn't really know if I believed it based on what I saw. With Keon it is obvious that he is a guard. Good feel and comfortability with the ball in his hands on the perimeter. Good court vision and passer.
 
#73
#73
The recruiting calendar has changed for the summer of 2019, allowing coaches to watch prospects in June and July. The question is which prospects fall into the category of “must gets.” In this week’s Bossi’s Best, National Basketball Analyst Eric Bossi looks at 2019’s final regular-season Associated Press Top 25 Poll and discusses which 2020 targets are most important for the teams that finished in the top 10.
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6. TENNESSEE
Why he’s a must get: What’s the point of rebuilding the program the way Rick Barnes has if you can’t land big-time local players? I don’t mean that literally, but if this version of the Vols can’t land a wing like Johnson who fits them, who they have need for and who seems to really like them then there is reason to be a little worried.
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-Bossi (Rivals)
 
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#74
#74
MoB_MoVols said:
-Bossi (Rivals)
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I have to agree with that last paragraph. Vols' have to lock down this kid. I think Keon is and/or will be a Vol. But, if we miss out on him, not only will I be heartbroken, but the Barnes is overpaid and/or did UT wrong crowd, will be ecstatic and tell us about it every day. Keon is a close as a must-get for Barnes as any player he has recruited at UT
 
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#75
#75
The NBA Players’ Association Top 100 Camp is annually stocked with tons of talent and this year’s edition has been no different. On day one of the event Tennessee target Keon Johnson was one of the standouts. Johnson (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) turned in a strong day one performance, flashing the kind of athleticism and versatility that has put him on the cusp of being a five-star prospect. This is a return visit to the elite camp setting for Johnson who was one of the few underclassmen invited to last year’s event. His play that week solidified his status as a national prospect, though Tennessee’s heavy interest preceded that performance. “Being up here and getting a chance to compete with the kind of players that are here gave me a lot of confidence. It really opened my eyes to the kind of player that I can become,” Johnson said.
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In the ensuing year he’s fielded a host of offers from high major programs across the country and recently settled on a final three. He’ll make his decision on August 6 between Tennessee, Virginia and Ohio State. Johnson officially visited both Tennessee and Virginia last fall as a junior and hopes to see Ohio State sometime later this month. In addition to his official visit Johnson has made multiple other trips to Knoxville, including most recently as an unofficial visitor when the Vols hosted Florida this past season. “I have a high comfort level with Tennessee just because it’s so close to home. I’ve been there several times,” he said. “Coach Barnes has shown that he’s a really good coach and you can see with what they’ve done under him that they have great player development there. You can just see how much better the players have gotten under him.” The past two seasons under Barnes, which have included an SEC title, 57 wins and several weeks spent ranked No. 1 in the country have also legitimized what the staff has been selling Johnson on, namely that he can stay in-state and compete for championships. “The season they just had kind of says it all. It’s so close to home and you can go there and compete for a national championship. They play a very tough schedule and compete against the best teams in the country,” he said.
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Virginia can very obviously make the same claim having just captured the program’s first national title this past season. That success, along with head coach Tony Bennett’s approach has pushed the Cavaliers into his final three.“ I like Coach Bennett. On my official visit we watched film together and he didn’t just talk about my strong suits, he talked about things I could do to get better,” Johnson said.Ohio State is a bit of a wildcard, having just gotten into the picture this past spring. According to Johnson that’s a result of former Vanderbilt assistant Jake Diebler being hired in Columbus after Bryce Drew and his staff were let go following last season. “I had a real good connection with the Vanderbilt coaching staff and Coach Diebler went to Ohio State. After that happened he started recruiting me there and that’s basically why I started looking them,” he said. Johnson is the top-ranked player in the state of Tennessee in the 2020 class and currently ranked No. 34 in the country. His play this week against elite competition has done nothing to suggest those rankings are off, if anything he could get a bump based on how he’s looked early on. Tennessee fans have less than two months to wait to find out if he’ll be spending his college career in Knoxville.
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-Vq
 
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