A.J. Johnson's speed and playmaking elevates him to On3 5-star

By Jamie Shaw and Gerry Hamilton

A.J. Johnson has done in a few months what rarely happens. He has gone from a player with an offer from New Mexico prior to the 2021 season to a top 10 prospect overall, and 5-star in the latest On3 Top 150 rankings update.

The 6-foot-4.5 guard has displayed a skill set this spring and early summer that has high-major colleges, and the industry taking serious notice.

On3 recently had two sets of eyes on Johnson at the Pangos All-American Camp, and the decision was unanimous. Johnson is a 5-star prospect that is just beginning to scratch the surface.

Johnson’s speed and quickness are different

The first thing that stands out when watching Johnson in person is his speed. His speed with ball in hand is different than most. Not only is he fast in transition with the ball, but gets to top end speed very quickly. That places defenders in an instant turn and recover situation.

What makes Johnson such a high-level prospect is the skill set that is married to his speed. He plays under control, and that especially shows in the half court. There are players with speed and quickness, but when you add wiggle to the equation a player is extremely difficult to guard. Johnson has all of it, and with the ability to score from every level.

Johnson also flashed high-end passing and decision making in the ball screen game at Pangos. The passes were delivered with feel and timing, placing big men in an ideal position to catch and get to the rim without wasted motion.

And then there is the upside. Johnson’s is just beginning to scratch the surface physically. His 6-foot-4.5 frame has plenty of room for growth, and he will undoubtedly add strength to his frame over time. He’s already showing impressive vertical pop, and we expect that to only improve as he makes strength gains. Johnson doesn’t turn 18 until December, making him young for his class.

Jamie Shaw’s take on AJ Johnson

When projecting players from level to level, there are a lot of varying factors that go into it. One of the main questions you ask yourself is a two-parter, what does a player do, and can that skill translate?

In the case of AJ Johnson, you immediately see the speed. His burst is quite simply different from everyone else on the floor. He gets from zero to sixty with one move on any level of the court.

Johnson has a projectable frame. He is very thin right now, but the broad shoulders give the appearance he will put good weight on with a next-level strength and conditioning program. While most of Johnson’s game is downhill, the jump shot has good rhythm and a consistent release.

At 6-foot-4, 6-foot-5, the point guard has good size for the position. Johnson has shown vertical pop at the rim while playing with Jalen Green Elite on the Adidas 3SSB circuit this summer. He is crafty at the basket and able to take contact.

Johnson’s comp

Our Gerry Hamilton brought up the name Jaden Ivey while watching Johnson. At the same stage, Ivey was 6-foot-3 and 160-pounds. Ivey continued to grow and put on weight while at Purdue, and now he is talked about as a top-five NBA Draft pick.

Of course, I am not suggesting AJ Johnson is as good as Jaden Ivey right now. However, the commonalities and similar archetypes are too obvious to ignore. They both have elite-level speed that will translate as such to the highest level. The pair has plus positional size, decisively taking space and getting downhill with their dribble. And they both compete each time they are on the floor.

Looking ahead

In this 2023 class, there is a lot of unknown, and the same goes for AJ Johnson. However, looking at his natural tools and the progression he has taken over the last eight to 12 months, you can see a steep trajectory.

There is work to still be done, but Johnson has the elite tool that translates now to the highest level. The talent and frame uniquely surround that trait. And to top it off, there is a track record of continuous improvement.

Watch his progression over the next eight to twelve months. Johnson could continue climbing in On3’s 2023 rankings.