Player: Johny Deng
Class: 2025
Height: 7’0
High School: Rabun Gap
AAU: Team Swish
Throughout your time of being a scout, there are a few stories that really capture your eyes and are worth telling. One of the most recent ones that we have come across is the story about 2025 Johny Deng. Deng is a young prospect that comes from South Sudan. When first getting a glance at him, his height and his age certainly capture your attention. It wasn’t an easy trip to get here to the US, but now, he is here and joined Rabun Gap back in December.
Diving more into his game though, you can’t help but see his 7-foot frame as a young prospect that is just scratching and getting a chance to learn the game. When speaking to Coach Kelly at Rabun Gap, he had this to say:
“On the court, Johny is learning how to play basketball still, but he has a foundation that is impressive. For his size and age, he can run the floor as well as anyone we’ve seen. He has good touch and a decent understanding of the game. He is competitive and curious and wants to be coached. He wants to be great and is willing to do the work. We are looking forward to a bright future for this special young man as he continues to develop and acclimate.”
Deng does a nice job early on being a huge presence in the paint, blocking shots or at least contesting, but also being effective on the glass. Now, he is still raw in several areas but with him being young, he has plenty of time to develop his game and like coach said, he wants to be coached and take advantage of the opportunity he has been given.
Make sure you put Deng on your watch list though early.