Johnson, an Eastern Michigan signee, came out of the gate hot to set the tone for Toledo Central Catholic’s 81-51 blowout victory over host Huntington North. The 6’2″ guard connected on three three-point shots early and went on to finish with 20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Eastern Michigan is getting a very talented, dynamic playmaker with good length on the perimeter.

The Ohio Buckets 17 U squad has been on a mission this EYCL season and continued their dominant winning ways with another blowout win. I thought Johnson impacted the game in a variety of ways with his defensive activity, quick processing as a passer and scoring off cuts and closeout attacks off the dribble. An underrated part about Johnson’s game is his rebounding ability and I was impressed with his ability to box out bigger forwards and once he secures the rebound he can quickly go coast to coast. Expect the Division I interest for Johnson to spike starting this weekend.

Johnson showed the ability to be a true point guard with this Buckets squad this weekend. He is a score-first player but he showed e the ability to create for others as well. He does a great job of manipulating and using the ball screens. He was getting downhill and finishing at the rim well. He would not force. He picked and chose his spots. In the AAU game, everyone wanted to play at a fast pace and Johnson controlled the game at this pace. He can read the game well.

On a night where not many Irish connected from long range, it was Johnson making plays all over the court. A dynamic lead guard who can set the table at a high level, Johnson had some slick assists to cutters and players sitting at the dunker spot. With his athletic gifts Johnson can also score at the rim with a floater, lefty finish in traffic and a putback layup. The biggest step Johnson and a few of his teammates can make going into next season will be confidence as spot-up shooters from beyond the arc. If Toledo Central Catholic can consistently make shots from 3-point range, they’ll have a chance to win the state title next season.

Johnson is a player who will only be able to contain not stop. He is so good of a scorer that you will not allow him to score. He is going to get his. He does a great job of getting to his spot on the floor and knocking down shots. He is good at getting to his right hand and getting all the way to the rim. He uses his length great to get to the rim. He seemed to have a tough game but when you looked at the scoreboard he was pushing 20 points. He is an impressive scorer.

Johnson came out the gates hot and a rhythm to start the game on Tuesday. He was getting to his spots and hitting his shots very efficiently. He would use simple moves that would usually be 1 or 2 dribbles. He got to the rim all night long and was unstoppable at points. He is someone who when he got downhill with his right hand cooked the Titans all night. He played like the best player on the court in a highly talented game.

Johnson was a warrior who battled a minor injury through the latter stretches of the game showed his ability to impact the game in all facets. He was able to get others involved with his precise vision of the floor. He showed he could score in a variety of ways. He was active on the boards as well. Johnson was able to go coast to coast navigating through traffic to get to the bucket. He finished with 15 points in the game.

Johnson is someone who scores in bunches. At some point in the game, he will do exactly that. He showed great touch around the rim through contact. He had multiple tough and and-1 finishes. He is a very natural player who just seems to be playing basketball for a while. He has a great skillset that allows him to score from all three levels. He can be another primary ball handler for the Irish if they ever need that as well. 

Johnson is one of the most underrated prospects in the state of Ohio. He will be a headline player of this team because he is a great talent. He has shown some flashes of being special during his first two high school years but seems to have turned a corner and put everything together. He is a true three-level scorer. His three-point shot has become a true weapon for him. He can do everything athletically which makes it very difficult to score on him and stop him from scoring. Johnson will continue to put many colleges on notice. 

The younger brother of Chico Johnson, a Toledo Central Catholic guard who plays at the Division I level, Manny flashes some different traits than his older brother. Able to play on or off the ball, Johnson mostly played the wing guard role for the Ohio Buckets but we could see him with the ball primarily in his hands this winter for the Irish. A shifty guard when he’s attacking downhill, Johnson is tough to stay in front of with his bend and wiggle off the dribble. A bit of a later bloomer than some in this class, Johnson has improved his production and I expect him to be one of the best guards in northwest Ohio this winter.