'10 IL PG/SG Anthony Johnson (Purdue Verbal)

[crazybuckfan40]

Originally Posted by itownbuckeye

Any idea if Johnson considers himself a PG or SG? At his height, I assume if he wants to make it to the league he'll focus on becoming a PG. Not many 6'3" SG make it, let alone flourish in the league. I'm still kind of surprised at how high E. Gordon went in the draft given his lack of height & ball-handling skills.

Not sure on what he considers himself at...But obviosly he knows that he is going to need to become a better point for his career to take off...

But the kid can create for himself and teammtes, and that is what you need out of your point guard...The way he can score the ball is just a bonous...

[buckeydoptimist]

Gordon was often listed at 6'5 or at least 6'4, like so many we now know that was inflated. So maybe the 6'3 Johnson is more like 6'1.

In Gordon's case I don't think it matters, he can flat out light it up so the 2 is viable regardless of his actual height.

But I would agree that many need to work on their PG skills if they want to make it in the NBA as a smaller G. Just like many 6'7 - 6'8 types know they'll need to work on wing skills more than power moves to make the transition. Guys like Young, Tyus, Babbitt, Wesley Johnson and Hairston that we have/are recruiting all want to work on their outside game more and learn to be 3's or combos. Matta's 4 allows that lattitude, so you'd think we'd get more BITES than we have in this type of fishing.

I hope Johnson jumps on board during his visit. I most want to wrap up he and Payne - Sibert would be gravy then at that point - IMO.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Scout.com$ (Notre Dame site)

Johnson Turned On By Notre Dame........Johnson visited ND this past fall and was offered a scholie. Iowa, Iowa State, Purdue, Miami (FL) and another Big Ten school have offered, he did not specify the school. Johnson intends to visit tOSU in the near future.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Link

Anthony Johnson's Recruitment An Interesting One


By Roy & Harv Schmidt

There has been at least one basketball recruitment in the Chicago area with a strange twist every year for the past four years. In 2005 it was Julian Wright, in 2006 it was both Sherron Collins and Patrick Beverley, in 2007 it was Derrick Rose and last year it was both Michael Dunigan and Matt Humphrey. It appears as though this year's candidate might be Whitney Young's Anthony Johnson, and what makes this even more eye-popping is that Johnson is only a class of 2010 prospect.
Before we go any further, let us emphasize that we ARE NOT accusing anyone of wrong doing and are certainly not saying that anyone is engaging in any improprieties, because we don't believe that is the case. We are simply saying that it appears as if there could be more to Johnson's recruitment than meets the eye with respect to how far along the process is and how soon a commitment may be forthcoming.
The bulk of the evidence which supports our reasoning surrounds plenty of interesting comments that Johnson has made when it comes to one school's involvement with him in particular. That school happens to be Ohio State. Simply put, it appears as though Johnson has been much more discreet when it comes to discussing where the Buckeyes stand in his recruitment.
In a previous article on another recruiting site talking about Johnson's recruitment, Johnson, when asked about Ohio State said, "there are things I can't comment on right now." Not only that, but in another article in which Johnson was specifically asked to name the schools which have offered him scholarships, he mentioned five schools--Illinois, Notre Dame, Purdue, Iowa and Iowa State. Yet he also indicated that he has a total of six offers, refusing to tell anyone who the sixth school is. As we continue with this blog, hopefully everyone will see why this is more than just a minor detail.


Continued.....

[JCOSU86]

Was it worth alienating Golden to get Johnson? Or am I off base here?

[LitlBuck]

I'm not quite sure but I don't think we "alienated" Golden to go after Johnson. I think Golden decided he wanted to look a round a little or maybe that Ohio State was not his dream school. I guess I could have seen it if Johnson would have verballed to Ohio State but I think there were other reasons Golden "de committed" but I could be wrong I think there was room for both of them in that class.

[brodybuck21]

didnt golden and his parents complain about a lack of love from the staff? not exactly a great thing to hear from a recruit..of course i could have heard wrong...

ok back to anthony. i really hope he verbals to osu. the kid is a player

[crazybuckfan40]

That blog article is very strange...They act like nothing is going on, and say that is not way they are saying, but that is what they are insinuating thru the entire article...

With the things that Golden said after his decommit...I am all for Johnson over Golden...

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by crazybuckfan40

That blog article is very strange...They act like nothing is going on, and say that is not way they are saying, but that is what they are insinuating thru the entire article...

With the things that Golden said after his decommit...I am all for Johnson over Golden...

+1

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I believe that the staff wanted both Golden and Johnson........it seems that Golden did not appreciate another guard being recruited.......just my opinion......I would take either one and both if they could.....

[LitlBuck]

it seems that Golden did not appreciate another guard being recruited.......

I just don't understand why a kid would think that way. He probably would have gotten a lot of playing time even if Johnson does commit to the Buckeyes. I mean he has to realize any school that he goes to is going to have more than one guard unless he wants to go to a Division III school and be the big dog. Just very strange IMO

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

One-on-one with Anthony Johnson

I reached 2010 point guard Anthony Johnson of Chicago Whitney Young by phone this afternoon and he confirmed what has been reported on some recruiting sites, that he intends to make an unofficial visit to Ohio State this month. He said he does not know when, that he was invited to an ?elite camp? coaches are planning sometime this month but does not know if that will be when he makes it to town.
Johnson said he already has visited Illinois, Purdue, Notre Dame, Marquette and Iowa State and has offers from Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Purdue, Miami (Fla.), Notre Dame ?and another school I can?t mention right now . . . (but) people know which school it is.?
That school is Ohio State, but Johnson may be playing coy and waiting to announce it after coach Thad Matta ?officially? offers him. That?s the way Matta likes to operate. Northland junior Jared Sullinger, for example, didn?t ?officially? get his offer until Matta invited him and his father to campus one day last year.
There is speculation that Johnson will make a commitment to Ohio State when he visits.
?That?s possible,? he said. ?I?m not sure yet, but that?s possible. But that?s for any school.
?I want to see the campus before I pick a certain school. If I see a certain campus and I like it that much, I could commit as early as tomorrow. But I think I?m going to end up waiting.?

Continued......

[LitlBuck]

That?s possible,? he said. ?I?m not sure yet, but that?s possible. But that?s for any school

That would be very nice if that did come true. That would solidify one of the guard spots in the 2010 class but I am unsure of which spot it would solidify PG or SG.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Bucknuts.com$ (Jeff Rapp)

AJ Says OSU Is A-OK................Johnson admits that tOSU has offered. Johson admits to being very interested in tOSU but states he does not have a leader. Johnson is looking at Ohio State, Purdue, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois and Miami (Fla.). Johson visited Purdue this past week and indicates he will be visiting tOSU with his mother in August.

[buckeydoptimist]

Saying he doesn't have a leader seems to conflict with most other accounts, hopefully he is just being PC so as not to completely burn bridges with others he's been visiting.

Originally Posted by OSUBasketballJunkie

Bucknuts.com$ (Jeff Rapp)

AJ Says OSU Is A-OK................Johnson admits that tOSU has offered. Johson admits to being very interested in tOSU but states he does not have a leader. Johnson is looking at Ohio State, Purdue, Notre Dame, Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois and Miami (Fla.). Johson visited Purdue this past week and indicates he will be visiting tOSU with his mother in August.