Recruiting Report: Tariq Johnson (2018)
Mt. Zion Prep is priming for a big season with a deep, talented roster. Of those talents, 2018 wing Tariq Johnson could have a huge impact on just how good the Warriors will be.
Johnson had an extremely successful season last year at Kent Island High School in Stevensville, Maryland. The 6’5 wing averaged 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds per game as he led the Buccaneers to a 14-7 overall record. There were plenty of games throughout the season where Johnson was flat out dominant, but his recruitment failed to pick up as he hoped due to the location of his school. After the season came to a close, coach Brian Scott approached Johnson and offered the him the opportunity to come to Mt. Zion Prep to not only polish his game, but also to help get him the exposure he deserved.
“I felt like it was the best move for me,” Johnson told PrepHoops. “There’s a lot of holes in my game that I need to fill and I feel like Mt. Zion is the place that’ll help me do that.”
Before he would attend Mt. Zion, Johnson would take part in an AAU season that was a great jumpstart to getting his name out to Division I coaching staffs. With the help of coach Scott, Johnson played with We R1’s 17U team. At first, he wasn’t seeing the floor. But soon enough Johnson became one of the first options off the bench for a team that consisted of many of the top players in the country.
“I wasn’t used to playing on a big stage like that,” said Johnson. “Gaining confidence was big for me. I talked a lot with the coaches and teammates and they constantly lifted me up. Throughout the season, my confidence picked up and I was hitting shots, making plays on defense and everything just came together.”
Confidence seemed to be the key for Johnson this spring and summer. Now as he prepares to take on some of the best players in the country playing with Mt. Zion, he has other things on his mind in terms of improvement.
“First off, I want to improve my motor,” Johnson said. “That’s probably the biggest thing. I also want to tighten up my ball handling and being more consistent with my shot and making it more defined.”
Johnson holds offers from Siena and Wagner with interest from Radford, Delaware and West Virginia has started expressing interest I was told. That list is almost guaranteed to expand once more eyes get on Johnson.
Johnson is a prototypical wing with a good body. He plays both ends of the floor, rebounds well and makes the right basketball play. In terms of shooting, he has a fluid jumpshot off of catch-and-shoot scenarios from three. Johnson has good strength and athleticism to assist him in finishing amidst contact around the rim. He’s the type of player who doesn’t need the ball in his hands to make his impact felt. Often times he’s in the right place at the right time for put-backs off teammate’s misses.
Defensively, Johnson will translate well to the collegiate level right away. At 6’5 with a good build, he can hold his own against bigger match ups and is athletic enough to stay with small, quicker guards.
Johnson holds a 3.75 GPA with intentions of majoring in kinesiology.