Nick Johnson
Photo by Nicholas Koza
Sean Miller's bid to restore Arizona to national elite status took a major step forward Thursday as
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) guard
Nick Johnson made a verbal commitment to the program.
Johnson, an ultra-athletic 6-foot-3 guard, averaged 14.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game for 32-2 Findlay Prep as a junior. The Pilots captured ESPN's National High School Invitational for the second-straight season.
An entertaining transition threat, Johnson followed that success by helping Oakland, Calif.-based club team Drew Gooden Soldiers capture July's Fab 48 tournament title in Las Vegas.
As a sophomore, Johnson teamed with UCLA-bound point guard Matt Carlino at Highland (Gilbert, Ariz.), helping the Hawks reach the state's 5A Division I title game. The potential dynasty never developed, however, after both players left the school following the 2008-09 campaign.
According to Johnson's mother, Michelle, the decision to commit to the Wildcats came as a surprise. He had visits to Arizona State and Kansas scheduled for the coming weeks.
"Right after his workout today he said 'I'm ready,'" Michelle Johnson said. "I said 'Ready for what?'"
After clearing up the confusion, Nick Johnson – No. 18 in MaxPreps.com's Class of 2011 Top 100 released Tuesday – and family drove to Tucson to inform Miller and staff in person.
The Johnsons had a double-dose of good news to celebrate as Nick's older brother, Chris, also decided his basketball future after a year at South Kent School (South Kent, Conn.). The 6-6 forward is headed to Grand Canyon University next season to play for former Arizona interim coach Russ Pennell.
