We've seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a 'Getting to Know' series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today's edition will take a closer look at LJ Johnson of United Faith Christian Academy and the Charlotte Royals.
Johnson has been great for the Royals throughout the last two weekends, including at our Queen City Showcase, where we stated, 'There's a lot to like with this Royals roster, and Johnson was arguably their top performer in this showing. He's a long, wiry guard prospect with the ability to balance his offensive attack between penetration, transition play, and perimeter shooting. Johnson plays with a high motor, naturally securing rebounds and extra possessions, and can defend multiple positions defensively. He was able to get whatever he wanted, from finishes to pull-ups to spot-up buckets, and looked like a next-level player in the process.'
Folks should already know Johnson at this point, but it's nice to continue seeing the checkpoints throughout his progression. He's been fairly productive over the last two years but has also steadily worked to improve the deficiencies within his game. Johnson is still somewhat wiry but possesses the necessary combination of length, toughness, and athleticism to make up for his lack of strength. He's a well-rounded scorer with the ability to mix it up and continually apply pressure from multiple levels. Johnson loves to attack the basket, especially in transition, and can finish with force or finesse. He's a solid rebounder and quality defender with great anticipation for jumping into passing lanes. Add in his motor and Johnson is a very consistent two-way contributor with IQ and an understanding of how to mesh with any collection of teammates.
