Jamal Johnson
Sparkman's Jamal Johnson (20) is fouled by Lee's Taylor Moore (4). Sparkman vs. Lee boys basketball at Lee High School Tuesday Nov. 12, 2013. (Bob Gathany / bgathany@al.com)
(Bob Gathany)
Spain Park's Jamal Johnson is only a sophomore, but multiple college basketball programs have already extended offers to the 6-foot-4 combo guard.
Johnson is taking his recruitment slowly. He holds offers from Auburn, Texas A&M, Kansas State and Murray State and came away impressed after participating in Bruce Pearl's basketball camp at Auburn Sunday.
"(Auburn) is at the top," Johnson said. "The camp was really fun. got to play against a lot of high-level guys from all around. It was active. Bruce Pearl is a great coach and it was really fun.
"Auburn seems like a good place to call home. It's really cool and it seems like you can have fun here. Everybody's nice around here."
Johnson averaged 16.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.8 steals for Sparkman last season before transferring to Spain Park. Basketball runs in Johnson's blood -- his father Buck Johnson starred at Alabama before competing in the NBA for seven seasons.
"He already has a great basketball IQ and a great feel for the game," his father told AL.com in July. "He really understands the game and the way to play basketball and what he needs to do to develop his game."
Johnson has already been to Auburn a handful of times and likes the way Pearl is rebuilding the program. The Tigers have picked up commitments from three elite 2015 prospects since Friday, pushing the class into the top 10 nationally.
"He's already turning it around," Johnson said. "A bunch of good recruits are coming in and everything. He's going to turn it around, because he plays such up-tempo and fast-paced basketball."
Will Johnson be the next to pledge to Auburn? It's unlikely. He still has a few years of prep ball ahead of him and doesn't expect to commit until his junior or senior season.
Johnson has yet to be rated by the major recruiting services, but is a three-star prospect according to Future150. Check out some highlights of the 2017 prospect below.