Many options for Lake Clifton's Durand Johnson
Durand Johnson's summer on the AAU circuit couldn’t have gone much better.
The 6-foot-7 shooting guard, who has transferred to Lake Clifton after spending the past two years at Parkville, suited up for Cecil Kirk and promptly earned offers from a host of high- and mid-major schools.
Delaware was the first school to offer Johnson, while Drexel and Xavier followed suit soon after. As the summer went on, offers came from Pittsburgh, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Marquette, UNLV, UMass and Seton Hall, according to Johnson.
“I was looking forward to getting all that,” said Johnson, who spent his freshman year at St. Frances. “I was expecting that because I put in the hard work.”
Johnson, a 2011 prospect who will do a post-graduate year “most likely at Notre Dame Prep,” is still considering all schools that express interest. But he already has an early top four.
“Pitt, UConn, Florida State and Virginia Tech. That’s it right there,” Johnson said. “I really like those four the most right now. I really can see myself being a big-time player at any of those programs.”
Johnson, who wants to make his decision in the spring, plans on taking an unofficial visit to Pittsburgh on Oct. 23.
“I really don’t know a lot about them,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen them play a couple of times. I know Jermaine Dixon, he’s from Baltimore and he plays at Pitt. They’ve turned him into a pretty good player. And [former Pittsburgh standout] Sam Young played for Cecil for about two or three years.”
Johnson, who averaged around 19 points per game last season for Parkville, transferred to Lake Clifton after moving in with his father, who lives about 10 minutes away from the school’s campus. Johnson joins the defending Class 3A state champion Lakers, who lost Will and Antonio Barton, Cleveland Melvin and Jason Sharp off its roster.
Johnson and point guard Josh Selby, a DeMatha transfer and five-star recruit, will be counted on to keep the Lakers on top of the Baltimore city standings.
“Oh, I’m really excited,” Johnson said. “I can’t wait till the jump ball goes up.”
Photo courtesy of the Johnson family.
Comments
The college in which this young man chooses will benefit greatly; we have had several opportunities to witness
Mr. Johnson in action and he is indeed a phenomenal basketball player.
Posted by: Mr. & Mrs. Gaskins | October 16, 2009 12:29 AM