Recruiting Report: Caden Johnson (2020)
AAU is designed in part to give kids opportunities to earn exposure. Few guys in North Dakota capitalized on that opportunity more than Caden Johnson. Few players in North Dakota raised their stock over the summer as much as Johnson,…
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Continue ReadingAAU is designed in part to give kids opportunities to earn exposure. Few guys in North Dakota capitalized on that opportunity more than Caden Johnson.
Few players in North Dakota raised their stock over the summer as much as Johnson, a 6-foot-9 forward from Minot, who played sparing minutes a season ago with the Magicians. He spent the grassroots season playing with ND Attack (and a tournament with ECI at the end of July), getting a chance to play against some of the best big men throughout the Midwest. Johnson said the chance to test himself in that arena was important for his development.
“I haven’t had that kind of competition before,” said Johnson. “It’s been really good. I feel like it’s going to help me improve and get to the college level quicker. It’s helped me find so much. It’s been tremendous.”
Johnson is a big, strong and athletic big man. He moves well and has the kind of twitchiness that provides evidence that there’s a lot of untapped upside. Johnson’s working hard to keep growing his game. Now he’s earning looks from schools all over the state and looks like a player with a lot of upside.
“I’m talking to a few schools,” said Johnson. “I’m willing to put in the work for it. I’ve talked to Minot, Jamestown, Concordia and a few schools in Oregon. I’m trying to work on my ball handling and 3-point shot. Everybody needs to be able to do those things at the college level. I’m at my best backing people down and in the post. So I’m trying to expand my game.”
Minot is going to be a top-five team in Class A North Dakota next year with four starters set to return. Johnson could be a breakout player for them and a real key to the Magicians living up to those expectations.
“We did a few team camps,” said Johnson. “We’ve played in some tournaments and things have gone well. I’m more than excited for the season. I don’t know how else to put it.”