The talent within the high school basketball landscape seems to unveil more and more college-worthy players each year. Although there’s an influx of next-level prospects, we regularly see guys falling through the cracks. It’s not uncommon for someone to have individual production, team success, and translatable tools, yet don’t receive the appropriate amount of attention from the masses. There are many examples, both past and current, of this notion. Right now, arguably no one represents this sentiment better than Dalton “Dynamite” Johnson of Rockingham County High School.
The transition from our first viewing as a JV player for Piedmont Classical to a legitimate college prospect at Rockingham has been nothing short of astonishing. He might be unassuming at first glance, but it doesn’t take long for folks to recognize his ability on the court. Johnson is a skilled, dynamic point guard who shines through his playmaking, toughness, and ability to fill it up as a scorer from all levels. He’s a reliable creator, both for himself and others, and understands how to properly dictate the action as a focal point. Johnson is a pesky defender who works hard and looks to set the tone on both ends of the floor. His crafty handle, useful vision, and polished scoring ability make him a real problem for opponents.
In terms of production, Johnson’s numbers are truly unbelievable. He’s currently averaging 27.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 5.8 APG, 4.5 SPG, and 1.1 BPG with insane 62/56/91 shooting splits. If the individual numbers aren’t enough to impress, Johnson has helped propel the Cougars (6-2) to their best start in over a decade and potentially their best season of the last 20 years. Before his arrival last year, the program had only won nine games on three occasions since 2005-06. Now with Johnson, they eclipsed their first ten-win season (2023-24) of the millennium and look slated to finish even better this year. College coaches would be wise to get involved with Johnson, as his production and leadership have become legitimately impossible to ignore.