Recruiting Report: Markell Johnson (2017)

<p>For the last two seasons, East Tech guard <strong>Markell Johnson</strong> has been of the best kept secrets in the country, but now that secret is out. The junior point guard added six Division I offers this summer and was ranked No. 57 in the Class of 2017 by ESPN.com.</p> <p>The 6-foot-1 guard is grateful for the opportunities and praise, but he is not content with where he is.</p> <p>"It feels good, but you always have to stay humble and keep working to get better," Johnson said. "A lot of people would just be happy to be in the Top 60. I&#39;m not satisfied with being No. 57."</p> <p>Johnson holds offers from Arizona State, VCU, DePaul, Buffalo, Kent State, Bowling Green and Cleveland State. He&#39;s received interest from Ohio State, Michigan State, West Virginia, Memphis and Virginia Tech.</p> <p>Every school views Johnson as a difference-maker in the backcourt.</p> <p>"They like the way I can be a pure point guard and that I can score," Johnson said. "Everybody that offered me needs a point guard who can come in and play."</p> <p>He has two visits lined up right now. He&#39;ll visit Arizona State on Sept. 25 and Ohio State on Sept. 26.</p> <p>Johnson spent the summer working on his jumper and his communication. As a point guard, he knows how crucial it is to be a team leader.</p> <p>He also was in the classroom, as he took summer courses. The ACT is the next big test on the horizon for Johnson, and he&#39;s prioritizing it over anything else.</p> <p>"It&#39;s very important," Johnson said. "If you don&#39;t have the grades, you can be as LeBron James, but you can&#39;t do anything. That&#39;s what Coach Brett [Moore] put in my head all summer."</p> <p>Johnson, who helped lead his team to a state semifinal in 2014, has big goals for the 2015-16 season. He sees an East Tech team that has all the tools to replicate that run in March.</p> <p>"We&#39;re one of the best teams to come out of East Tech," Johnson said. "We&#39;re going to be tough defensively and offensively. Everyone has come together. We all have one goal."</p>