4-star PG Ty-Laur Johnson decommits from Memphis Tigers

Bronx (N.Y.) Our Saviour Lutheran School four-star point guard Ty-Laur Johnson has decommitted from Memphis. He was previously pledged to the Tigers since Nov. 12.

Johnson is the No. 80 overall prospect and No. 15 point guard in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 1 player in New York.

The 6-foot-0, 160-pound recruit currently holds offers from programs including NC State, Ole Miss, Seton Hall and St. John’s. He has taken official visits to NC State (Oct. 8), Ole Miss (Sept. 23), Pittsburgh (Sept. 1) and Fordham (Sept. 17).

Following Johnson’s decision, Memphis’ 2023 recruiting class contains five high school recruits. They are San Diego (Calif.) San Ysidro four-star combo guard Mikey Williams, San Diego (Calif.) San Ysidro four-star small forward JJ Taylor, Chatsworth (Calif.) Sierra Canyon four-star power forward Ashton Hardaway, Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Calvary Christian Academy three-star small forward Carl Cherenfant and Branson (Mo.) Link Academy three-star combo guard Ryan Forrest.

Ty-Laur Johnson is an impact player

Following Johnson’s commitment to Memphis in November, On3’s Jamie Shaw broke down what he brings to the hardwood.

“Johnson is a true point guard who plays with a sense of flair,” Shaw wrote. “He is a quick-on-quick guard with a tight handle, able to get to his spots in the half-court. Johnson is an alpha, confident player with the ball in his hands. However, the aforementioned flair can get him into some trouble. His 6.1 assists per game were one of the top outputs on the Nike circuit. However, he added 4.1 turnovers, which led to a 1 to 5 assist-to-turnover ratio. His 19.1 turnover percentage is something that will need to be monitored. 

“Johnson is a slippery with the ball in his hands. He has no problem getting anywhere he wants on the court, and he has an array of finishes in the paint. He is strong off of two feet, and he can finish from a number of angles around the basket. During EYBL play, Synergy says Johnson shot 48.6 percent from two. He has a strong pull-up game as well in the mid-range. 

“Johnson will need to improve his shooting from beyond the arc. He is a capable shooter but has a tendency to shoot off-balance or at the end of a shot clock. Johnson will have to get his balance down and develop an understanding of his footwork to get into his shot. He is a reliable free throw shooter, staying above 70 percent, shooting almost five attempts per game.”