Ari Rosenfeld:
Future150 Regional Analyst. Covering high school basketball in the Mid-Atlantic.
Charlottesville, VA (Future150) -- One of the more versatile prospects in the Southeast, Jamal Johnson put his entire all-around game on display at last month’s NBPA Top 100 camp in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Playing amongst many of the nation’s elite recruits, the Birmingham prospect consistently made his presence felt, whether he was creating offense in the halfcourt, running the wing in transition, or spotting up for deep jumpers. At 6’4”, Johnson has the requisite size and skillset to play both guard spots, and the toughness to even slide up to the small forward spot in some lineups.
The #101 prospect in our most recent 2017 rankings, Johnson mentioned in Charlottesville that Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Wake Forest, Butler, Vanderbilt, UAB, and Harvard are in touch with him the most, with all besides Harvard and Butler having offered.
An SEC priority, Johnson isn’t placing a particular emphasis on staying within his home region.
“I really don’t really prefer it any way. Just somewhere that I can call home, somewhere that fits for me,” he said when asked about staying near his home state for college.
While location won’t be a key factor, Johnson does have a few things in mind that he’ll be looking for when it ultimately comes time to pick a school.
“I think a good place that has a good academic structure, a place that I feel welcome there and the coaching staff welcomes me, and somewhere I think that I could compete and play my first year.”
One thing Johnson certainly possesses is great bloodlines, as his father, Alphonso “Buck” Johnson, spent seven seasons in the NBA for the Houston Rockets and Washington Bullets after being selected as the 20th pick in the 1986 NBA Draft.
A star at the University of Alabama (20.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a senior), the elder Johnson has played a crucial role in his son’s physical and mental development as a player.
“He works me out all the time, we always get extra shots up,” Jamal Johnson said. “He always just keeps me motivated and keeps me on my grind, keeps me playing hard and keeps motivating me everyday to be the best player I can be.”
Playing with the Adidas Gauntlet’s Team Carroll during the AAU season and Spain Park for high school, Johnson is focusing much more on his growth as a player and his team’s success than he is on recruiting at the moment. With plans to sign his National Letter of Intent during the spring’s late signing period, he’s perfectly content taking his time and seeing how things play out.
“Just keep getting better and improve my game as a player, get some good wins under our belt,” he said when asked of his goals for the summer and high school season. “I really don’t have a timeline right now, I’m just taking it real slow.”
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