SALT LAKE CITY – Utah head men’s basketball coach Craig Smith announced the signing of local in-state standout Jaxon Johnson to a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday.
“We are thrilled to announce the signing of Jaxon Johnson, he’s truly a special addition to our program,” Smith said. “One of the things that excites us most about Jaxon is his track record as a proven winner. His dedication, winning mentality and exceptional shooting skills are attributes that will undoubtedly contribute to our team’s success. Jaxon also has a deep-rooted connection to our university. His family is a Ute family through and through. His parents are proud Utah alums, and Jaxon himself grew up wearing Utah red. We can’t wait for Jaxon to join the Runnin’ Utes and see the impact he will make in our program.”
Johnson will serve his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after graduation before joining the Runnin’ Utes in 2026.
The highly-regarded four-star recruit according to ESPN, Rivals and On3 led Alta High School to the UHSAA 5A State Championship his junior year and announced his commitment to Utah just a week before the signing period. The Hawks went 24-4 overall last season and was led by Johnson, who was named the 2023 5A MVP after averaging 16.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.8 blocks per MaxPreps. His accomplishments last season also included all-region, all-state, all-tournament team and tournament MVP honors.
As a sophomore, the 6-8 forward led Alta HS to the quarterfinals of the state championships before finishing 19-7 overall while winning their region with a 10-2 mark. Johnson saw action in 26 games that season, averaging 13.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals for the Hawks.
Johnson also helped his AAU team, Utah Prospects, to the Adidas National 3SSB Championship this past summer and scored 16 points in the title game to earn tournament MVP honors. Utah Prospects captured the 2023 tournament title after taking runner-up honors the previous year.
In addition to his athletic prowess, Johnson is also a stalwart in the classroom earning academic all-region honors all three years at AHS.
Johnson’s older brother Brayden played a season at Snow College (2019-20)…
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