Texas basketball recruiting: Five-star guard AJ Johnson commits to Longhorns over Louisville, LSU

Texas picked up another prominent basketball commitment Monday when five-star guard AJ Johnson announced his intention to play for the Longhorns. Ranked the No. 14 overall prospect in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports, Johnson picked Texas over Louisville, LSU and professional options.

Johnson is regarded as a combo guard out of Southern California Academy in Castaic, California. He transferred to the school recently after he was enrolled at Donda Academy, which closed after the school’s founder Ye, formerly Kanye West, came under fire for offensive remarks. Johnson was also part of the this year’s USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp.

At 6-foot-5, Johnson’s size and length should be an asset at the next level as he plays on or off the ball for coach Chris Beard and the Longhorns. Here is a deeper look at Johnson’s game from 247Sports director of scouting Adam Finkelstein:

Johnson is an emerging big guard who is both in the midst of a rapid ascension and yet still possesses a wealth of untapped potential. There are tools in place to check all the boxes when it comes to positional size, length, athleticism, playmaking, and skill. He’s 6-foot-5-plus with long arms and legs. He plays with pace, is exceptionally fluid in the open floor, and virtually glides with the ball at times. He shoots a good ball from the outside and has a tight handle with both combination moves and stop-and-go change of pace. 

Chris Beard is recruiting well

With Johnson’s commitment, Texas’ 2023 recruiting class jumps from No. 58 to No. 26 in the 247Sports Team Rankings. Johnson joins 6-8 power forward Ron Holland in the class. Holland is also a five-star prospect, which makes the Longhorns’ class a high-end haul even though it’s light on volume. Beard also landed two five-star commitments from the Class of 2022 in Dillon Mitchell and Arterio Morris, making Texas a destination for top transfers early in his tenure.

While announcing his commitment to Texas, Johnson praised Beard and the Longhorns coaching staff. 

“I just felt really comfortable with the decision because I feel really comfortable with the coaching staff,” Johnson told 247Sports. “The people who are there, I can see myself being around them every day.

“I feel like our relationship is one of the best I had out of all the head coaches. We just talk a lot and he teaches me a lot so I felt the most comfortable with (Beard) being my head…