Prospect watch: Deontei Johnson (2017)
KANSAS CITY — An athletic wing player, Missouri Gym Rats 2017 Deontei Johnson has overcome a host of injuries that have plagued his high school career and put together a solid summer for head coach Mike Pierce. A left handed…
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Continue ReadingKANSAS CITY — An athletic wing player, Missouri Gym Rats 2017 Deontei Johnson has overcome a host of injuries that have plagued his high school career and put together a solid summer for head coach Mike Pierce.
A left handed shooter, Johnson is an active 6-foot-4 wing player that can shoot from the outside and attack the glass.
“He is super athletic and can jump out of the gym,” Pierce said. “He has the ability to not only attack the basket and slam it down, but also hit the 3.
“Rebounding is a plus. Defense is a strength yet can go end to end off the dribble.”
Johnson described himself as a well-rounded slasher that can get to the basket and play above the rim as well.
“I can step out and shoot the three and have a nice mid range,” he said. “I am often asked to guard the best player on the other team. I have great court vision.
“I usually see everyone on the court and can get them the ball easily. I’m consistently one of the leaders on the team in assists, steals and rebounds.”
Johnson says he has spent the summer focusing on finishing at the basket, improving his outside shot and becoming a leader on the court and says playing on the summer circuit with the Gym Rats has helped his game grow.
“My spring and summer has helped me a lot because I’ve had to step up and play stronger against the better teams,” Johnson said. “We’ve competed against some of the best teams in the country.”
.Johnson has fully recovered from an ACL injury that forced him to miss last summer and much of his junior season. But he says missing the time has caused him to slip off college coaches radar’s. He had a good showing two weeks ago at the Mullen’s Invitational in Kansas City and was back in KC this past weekend for the Hardwood Classic.
Johnson recently heard from Harding University in Searcy, Ark., and Missouri Baptist.
“I worked really hard in rehab to get back in seven months to be able to play before school ball was over and I’m hoping to get offers soon,” he said.