5-star in-state guard ZaKiyah Johnson announcing commitment on Sunday

One of the best basketball prospects to come out of the state of Kentucky in years has locked in a commitment date. Sacred Heart class of 2025 guard ZaKiyah Johnson posted to social media on Monday that she will announce her college decision this Sunday, November 3.

Johnson is reportedly down to just three schools: Kentucky, Louisville, and LSU. She was previously considering Notre Dame, South Carolina, and Southern California as well, but those three are no longer in contention. Johnson, a 6-foot guard, is ranked as the No. 4 overall high school senior in the country by On3.

Kenny Brooks, the new head coach of Kentucky women’s basketball, has yet to land a 2025 commit up to this point. Getting Johnson to choose the ‘Cats over the nearby Louisville Cardinals, which have recruited her for years, would be a great way to get over that hump. That being said, LSU might be the outside favorite heading into Sunday’s decision.

Almost time…

Commitment Day
Nov. 3, 2024 pic.twitter.com/kERNzZEwbu

— ZaKiyah Johnson (@ZJohnson_06) October 28, 2024

Johnson’s recruitment with UK dates back to the Kyra Elzy as head coach era. However, Kentucky appeared to be falling off the list of contenders until Brooks stepped in and put the program back into the mix. Johnson has taken several visits to Lexington over the years, including two trips over the last couple of months. She was among the many visitors in town for Big Blue Madness earlier in October.

“This one is definitely new,” Johnson told On3’s Talia Goodman in July about Brooks’ interest. “I already had a great relationship with Coach Brooks, but I didn’t really like the Virginia area. Now that he’s here and we’re building that connection, it’s going to be better because it’s closer and it’s something I’m familiar with. Also, Coach Josh [Petersen] from Miami – he was recruiting me at Miami and we talked a lot. He was kind of like one of my best friends. I’m very close with the staff and I think seeing the new program is really going to tell me what I need to know.”

Once Johnson’s high school career is all wrapped up, she’ll go down as one of the most decorated high school athletes to ever play basketball in the Bluegrass. She’ll look to lead Sacred Heart to a fourth straight state championship in 2024-25. She also has three Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year awards under her belt and an Olympic gold medal, which she earned over the summer. Johnson averaged 18.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per outing as a junior.

Will she bring all of those accolades to Lexington? Or will she head elsewhere?