Loss of AJ Johnson drops Texas in team recruiting rankings

Just a few weeks after their season came to an end in the Elite Eight, Texas looked well on its way to building a solid core to its future in a pair of 2023 five-star commitments. That future will now only consist of of one those commitments.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony reported Thursday morning that Woodland Hills (Calif.) Southern California Academy five-star point guard AJ Johnson had decommitted from Texas and instead signed with the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian NBL.

Johnson had been committed to Texas since Nov. 21.

That decommitment dropped Texas from the No. 3 class in the country to No. 13 and left them with only one other commitment in Duncanville (Texas) small forward Ron Holland.

Johnson’s decision comes just over three weeks after Rodney Terry was named Texas’ head coach on March 27. Terry had been serving as the Longhorns’ interim coach since Dec. 12 following the arrest of former Texas coach Chris Beard.

Beard had been arrested for an assault on a family/household member that impeded breath circulation. He was suspended indefinitely without pay by the university following the arrest and eventually fired on Jan. 5.

Terry was named the interim coach for the remainder of the season leading Texas to a 22-8 record, the Big 12 championship and a run to the Elite Eight.

“I feel really good about that,” Johnson told On3 following the news of Terry’s hiring. “He’s a really good coach. I had a relationship with him before (Chris) Beard. Coach Terry and I have a very good relationship. It definitely helps me a lot.”

Johnson is now the highest-ranked American Prospect since LaMelo Ball to join the NBL’s Next Stars program. Ball played a season in Australian NBL before being drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the third pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Terry’s relationship with Johnson

Terry most recently caught up with Johnson on a visit to Texas on April 6 where the two posted a photo together with the Horns Up gesture.

Terry had been the primary recruiter in Johnson’s recruitment and built a relationship with him as well as his trainer Mike Hill who is also the trainer for Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green.

Inside Texas caught up with Hill following the April 6 visit where Hill told them, ““We are committed to RT”.