Trinity High School’s David Johnson committed to Rick Pitino and his hometown UofL Cardinals back in September 2017, but ended up decommitting when the FBI scandal broke. Now, just a year later, Johnson, a 6’5 170 lbs G, has recommitted to Coach Chris Mack and the Cards.
🔴⚫️⚪️🐔 #L1C4 pic.twitter.com/dzaT2ezdGI
— David johnson ひ (@_daveordavid_) September 22, 2018
Johnson is a 4 Star G and the 72nd ranked player in 2019 per 247sports composite rankings. He chose UofL over Tom Crean and the Georgia Bulldogs.
When Chris Mack was hired, he made Johnson a top priority and has recruited him as hard as any player in the class. He and his staff had been recruiting Johnson while they were at Xavier.
It’s not hard to see why when you watch his highlights. Johnson is a tall, athletic, heady combo guard. He can play the point or off the ball as a SG or even SF. He’s got a calm demeanor and a smooth game to match.
Johnson is a good ball handler and decision maker. He can be trusted to handle the ball as a PG and run the offense. In fact, he’s very crafty. He uses change of pace with his dribble to get into the lane. As a decision maker, he shines to me. He recognizes when the defense overplays and finds open teammates. He knows when to shoot and when to pass.
Speaking of passing, Johnson is an excellent passer. He gets the ball where it needs to be and on time. He’s not a flashy passer, but he’s still spectacular. Don’t get me wrong, he can throw a few eye-popping passes, but he is more about getting the ball to the right guy in the most efficient way.
The shooting ability Johnson possesses also makes him dangerous. He can shoot off the catch or the dribble. He displayed a nice jab step, step back jumper like Kemba Walker. His range easily extends to the 3-point line with a solid midrange game. He can also take it to the hoop and make contested layups.
The court vision Johnson possesses is maybe his greatest strength. He always sees the open man and gets him the ball it seems. He sees the creases in the defense and attacks in the appropriate manner. Plus, with him being 6’5, he can see over most of the guys who would likely guard him.
All in all, Chris Mack landed a great G who will help UofL immediately next year. Not to mention, he got a young man who loves the university and the city and will play with all his heart. Match that with his talent and Mack’s ability to develop and you have All-ACC caliber player potential with Johnson. If you want a comparison for Johnson, he reminds me of Reece Gaines or Xavier player Paul Scruggs. A shot making PG that can run your team efficiently; though Mack may have him eventually play off ball depending on how he rounds out the class. With all the scandal that has plagued UofL, it’s nice to get a highly talented kid to stay home.
