TigerIllustrated.com recently hit the AAU circuit to check in with a number of Clemson’s basketball recruiting targets.
In the third installment of this series, we take a look at High Point (N.C.) Wesleyan wing Jalen Johnson:
PROFILE
Height: 6-6
Weight: 175
Rivals ranking: No. 145 nationally
Offers: Clemson, South Carolina, Miami, Wake Forest, Providence, Tennessee
RECRUITING BUZZ
Johnson’s recruitment is just beginning to take shape.
He has largely been overshadowed on the court as a teammate of several higher-profile recruits, including the nation’s No. 2-ranked prospect in Harry Giles, Wake Forest 2016 point guard commitment Brandon Childress and Internet sensation Kwe Parker.
But Johnson has come into his own as a featured wing on Team Wall during the summer AAU circuit.
He has a longstanding offer from nearby Wake Forest, although there have been questions as to whether that might be tied to Giles’ courtship.
Clemson then got the ball rolling with an offer one month ago during his unofficial visit to campus.
Miami, Tennessee, South Carolina and Providence all jumped in after last week’s showing at the adidas Uprising event in Atlanta. Kansas State, Iowa State and Texas Tech have been in touch recently, too.
He has taken multiple visits to Old Dominion and been to Virginia as well, but schools are lining up to conduct in-home visits next month.
FILM ROOM
TI SPOTLIGHT
With Johnson, it all starts with his bounciness. Whether it’s in transition or off the alley-oop, Johnson is a superlative dunker. His rise up recruiting boards and rankings reflects the potential people see in getting a plus athlete, i.e. their willingness to take a flyer on a flyer.
But Johnson wouldn’t be attracting the recent attention if not for flashing some functional basketball tools to go with it, either.
Johnson appears to have a capable 3-point stroke, even though his shooting tends to be inconsistent. He’s a lefty – seemingly a prerequisite to be a Brad Brownell perimeter recruit these days, we say only half-jokingly – but is comfortable driving to either hand and has a scorer’s touch.
He’s also rail thin, which is more of an issue in how little he mixes it up on the defensive end.
The inevitable K.J. McDaniels comparisons end with Johnson being a dunker who needs development. Johnson has a contrasting build, possesses more offensive finesse and refinement while lacking McDaniels’ power or shot-blocking instincts.
To be fair, we also saw him on the day he slumped; he rebounded the next day with a 22-point performance that drew the slew of offers – including, interesting, from South Carolina, which has not offered top in-state wing target De’Riante Jenkins.
In 11 series games, Johnson averaged 14.2 points on 44.7 percent shooting, including 38.4 percent from 3-point range and 58 percent from the foul line. He also averaged 5.9 rebounds.
QUOTABLE
“I'm just working through July first before I make my list. Then hopefully I'll either shorten my list or if I'm still picking up interest, I'll keep it open. I'm looking for a school that fits my style of play and somewhere I can see myself. One that gives me an opportunity to get to the next level. I don't have any favorites really."
"The Clemson visit was pretty good. I liked what I saw down there. They said they could use me as a shooter because their team has struggled to shoot. So they think I could be a guy who comes off screens in their offense."
"They play more of an up-tempo style, so I think I could see myself in that and in the ACC."
"The schools chasing me the hardest -- I'm going to base that off who has come to see me. Clemson has been at every game these past couple of weeks. Miami, I talk to them often. VCU, I talk to them often, too. Maybe Tennessee a little bit. But the top-three communication-wise would be Clemson, Miami and VCU."
GALLERY
Clemson assistant coaches past (Earl Grant, left) and present (Richie Riley, right) fall in line with the head coach (Brad Brownell) when evaluating a prospect.
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