Class Of 2010 Player Watch: Anthony Johnson

August 2, 2007

4:25 P.M. CST

Although this year's 17-Under National AAU Championship in Orlando didn't quite have the luster that it has had in the past from an Illinois standpoint, one player who undoubtedly lived up to his billing was 6'2 sophomore guard Anthony Johnson from Whitney Young High School in Chicago.

Johnson was spectacular in both games in which we watched him in Orlando, scoring 17 points in a pool play contest vs. a talented Team STAT squad and 22 points against Apex Force in the third round of the Classic Tournament.  In fact, we will go as far as to say that based on performance, Johnson may have been the best player from Illinois that we observed while in Orlando.

There is no question that Johnson has the makings of being an ideal combo guard at both the high school and college levels.  Not only does he have outstanding shooting range, as well as the ability to consistently create his own shot, but he has also shown that he can put the ball on the floor and consistently get to the basket in addition to being a tremendous no-look passer.

While Johnson has many of the same traits as some of the best guards to come out of the Chicago Public League in recent memory, the one who we find Johnson most comparable to is Patrick Beverley, although Johnson is a much better shooter at the same stage.  Like Beverley, Johnson excels in transition, is virtually unstoppable when going coast-to-coast and also creates havoc defensively as the result of his ability to get into the passing lanes.

Needless to say, Johnson is already garnering his fair share of recruiting attention, with Illinois being one of the schools right at the top of the list.  Illini assistant coach Tracy Webster was front and center for a number of Johnson's contests with Ferrari in Orlando.  Iowa State, Purdue, Bradley, Georgia, Illinois-Chicago, Wright State and Drake were among the other schools watching Johnson closely.

While the following may seem like a heavy statement, we are going on record to say that on a high school team which is absolutely loaded with back court talent (Marcus Jordan and Chris Colvin immediately come to mind), when it is all said and done Johnson may just prove to be the best college prospect of the bunch.  There is no question that Johnson is a high major prospect and at the present time ranks only behind 6'6 Jereme Richmond from Waukegan High School in Waukegan, IL as the best prospect from Illinois in the class of 2010.

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