Prospect Spotlight: Xavier Johnson (2018)
Xavier Johnson displayed excellent toughness throughout his Colorado Chaos 16 Elite squad’s run to the title game of the Top of the Rockies tournament over the weekend. Johnson, a 6-2 2018 guard out of Rocky Mountain in Fort Collins, is…
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Continue ReadingXavier Johnson displayed excellent toughness throughout his Colorado Chaos 16 Elite squad’s run to the title game of the Top of the Rockies tournament over the weekend.
Johnson, a 6-2 2018 guard out of Rocky Mountain in Fort Collins, is as strong and physical as almost any guard at his position in his class.
“I played football freshman year and lifted with the football team every day after school, so I have worked on my strength quite a bit,” Johnson said.
That strength, combined with good athleticism and speed, make him a load to slow down in transition, which is where he’s at his best. In the quarterfinals Sunday against a strong Colorado Hawks 15s team that was playing up a division, it was Johnson’s consistent attack that really turned the tide for Chaos.
“I just got the ball in my hands and had some opportunities to take the ball to the basket and draw some fouls,” he said. “That’s what I do best, so that’s what I decided to do.”
While strength and force are staples of Johnson’s game on both ends of the court, but he is also decently skilled. He has good Eurostep that he has been working on since his freshman year that has allows him to maneuver defenders in the open court.
“I knew I couldn’t just run into guys,” Johnson said. “I had to have some moves when I got to the basket.”
Johnson, who led Rocky Mountain in scoring last season as a sophomore at 10 points per game, said being assertive this spring has been one of his biggest goals, and he has certainly displayed that over the past two months. And his jump shot, while still a work in progress, has been improved this spring.
“It’s all about confidence for me,” he said. “My defense has gotten a little bit better and my free throw shooting. I’m working on all of that.”
It is not hard to imagine Johnson as a productive Division II RMAC player given his strength and physicality, and he has the tools to be a strong defender at the next level. With more development and skill work he could climb even further.
Look for a big junior season from another one of Colorado’s impressive stock of 2018 guards.