NBA Comparison: Nick Young/Cam Thomas

Strengths: At 6’6 and 190 pounds, Johnson has good height for a two guard/wing player at the next level … Outstanding Freshman season 19.9 PPG on high level shooting splits (42.7 FG% 39.7 3P% 87.1 FT%) leading entire SEC in scoring … Possesses a 6’10 wingspan and has great ball control and ball security … One of the best shot creators in the class, rarely sees a shot that he doesn’t like and has the ability to convert on high difficulty shots … Adept at the drive and dish … Is a capable shooter off the dribble, in spot ups and off step backs, has great balance and his effectiveness as a scorer isn’t dependent on getting to one particular spot … Plays with a swagger and a level of confidence that is unusual to find in a freshman … Johnson is crafty as a ball handler and is decisive with the ball in hands, making great reads in PnR, and has a wide array of moves and counters to keep defenders on their toes … A player who has shown improvement in isolation. He is always hunting for good looks for himself and uses his quickness to constantly cut and beat defenders to the rim … One of the best three-level scorers in this year’s draft, can score from inside, mid range and from deep … Johnson is rarely affected by change of pace, can slow his game down and pick it back up in the same breath, making him difficult to guard … Is at his best offensively when pushing a fast tempo and dominating in transition, whether attacking down hill or stopping on a dime to shoot … A proven elite scorer already (led the SEC in points per game with 19.9 in his first year)… While Johnson isn’t an elite playmaker, he has the tendencies and ability as a passer to be a solid secondary facilitator … Responds to pressure very well, both physical pressure/high presses and mental pressure in big moments, made multiple big plays and clutch shots that prove he’s built for the moment … Developed a reputation at Texas for hard work, getting up every every day at 5 AM for shooting drills … Played with remarkable productivity and consistency for a freshman, a testament to his maturing as an individual …

Weaknesses: Johnson has great length and height but overall size and weight need to be improved, struggles to absorb contact and finish strong and is forced to settle for awkward and more difficult looks… Is capable of making tough shots but willingly settles for them at times, resulting in a below average field goal percentage… Extremely inconsistent on defense, he knows how to use his length and athleticism to impact the defensive side of the ball, but most times lacks the spatial awareness and positioning to use his gifts in the best way possible… Doesn’t pressure the rim enough, goes back to problems with absorbing contact, and prefers to shoot over defenders despite usually having the size and length advantage… Can be overly dependent on post fades, needs to use his ability to create space and make decisive moves to take more quick shots that are harder to contest… Can occasionally be too scoring minded, most of his turnovers come from lapses of judgement where focuses too much on finding his own shot instead of resetting the play… His playstyle and mindset all point toward him being a player who is hyper fixated on the offensive side of the ball and despite having the attributes to be a solid defender, it doesn’t look like he desires to be more than servicable on that end …

Notes: Led entire SEC in scoring at Texas with 19.9 ppg, as a freshman … Native of Dallas, TX … Transferred to Link Academy for his senior year … Scored 19 points in the 2022 Underclassman All-American Game … Recorded 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-5 3PT), 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in the 2022 UA Next Elite 24 … 2023 Naismith All-American Honorable Mention …. 2024 Naismith All-American Second Team … Scored 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-7 3PT) in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game … Played in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit … Scored 10 points in the 2024 Jordan Brand Classic …

Isaiah Maldonado 4/7/25

Strengths: 6’6 shooting guard … Good length with a 6’10 wingspan … Has made noticeable improvement to his body strength over his senior year … Innate scorer and natural shot maker. Has a balanced base and good footwork along with fluid mechanics, high release point, and ball rotation on his shot. Shoots off the dribble or catch. Can hit tough and contested shots, scores well in isolation and in the midrange. Can take smaller defenders in the post and shows a fadeaway. Threat to score from anywhere on the floor as he shoots from midrange, 3PT, and out to the NBA 3PT line … 3PT shooting: 35.7% 3PT% 5.7 3PTA Nike EYBL 2022, 35.7% 3PT% 4 3PTA U19 World Cup 2023, 36.3% 3PT% 5.4 3PTA Nike EYBL 2023, 38.2% 3PT% 6.3 3PTA EYBL Scholastic 2023-24 … Doesn’t shy away from physicality and keeps his dribble alive with contact. Draws fouls at a good rate and reliable free throw shooter. Shot 4.9 free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023. FT shooting: 75.7% FT% Nike EYBL 2022, 94.1% (16-17) FT% U19 World Cup 2023, 79.8% FT% Nike EYBL 2023, (3^rd best) 88.2% FT% EYBL Scholastic 2023-24 … Good ball-handler, creates well for himself in the half-court with an array of dribble moves, and isn’t reliant on triple threat. Can create offense from scratch and doesn’t have to have a play ran for him. Solid ability to break down the defense with his dribble, changes his speed, and maneuvers his way through tight spaces … Capable of impressive passes and reads with good timing. Still has room to grow as a playmaker but has a solid assist count and positive assist to turnover ratio, keeping turnovers low considering his high-volume with the ball. Assist/turnover: 2.6 APG/0.9 TOPG U19 World Cup, 3.9 APG/1.9 TOPG Nike EYBL 2023, 3.4 APG/1.2 TOPG EYBL Scholastic 2023-24 … Solid rebounder for position. Averaged 5.6 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Good tools defensively and has his positive moments on the ball. Averaged 1.5 steals per game over the EYBL Scholastic in 2023-24 … Good aggression and confidence … Vocal …

Weaknesses: Shoots well off the catch, but doesn’t get many catch and shoot opportunities, he seems to want to take a few rhythm dribbles before going into his shot. Can over-dribble at times. While it speaks to his talent how he can score without having a play ran for him, he can work on scoring efficiency and getting easier shots, especially at his volume. Tends to live off difficult shots and iso situations, settling for contested shots and step backs, and can look to score within the flow more. Scoring stats: 14.8 PPG 38.1% FG% 13.8 FGA Nike EYBL 2022, 11.1 PPG 43.3% FG% 8.6 FGA U19 World Cup 2023, 18.6 PPG 41.9% 15.2 FGA Nike EYBL 2023, 16.2 PPG 45.5% FG% EYBL Scholastic 2023-24 … Reads cutting opportunities well but can get more movement off the ball. Can look to get to the rim more often. Can improve left-hand around the rim, forces right hand finishes when forced to his left at times … Can look to protect the ball better while driving to the rim … Solid athlete but not incredibly explosive or real quick. Can show more commitment defensively and may struggle defending quicker perimeter players at the next levels … Can wear negative body language at times …

Outlook: Transferred to Link Academy for his senior year … Scored 19 points in the 2022 Underclassman All-American Game … Recorded 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-5 3PT), 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in the 2022 UA Next Elite 24 … 2023 Naismith All-American Honorable Mention …. 2024 Naismith All-American 2^nd Team … Scored 17 points (6-9 FG, 5-7 3PT) in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game … Played in the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit … Scored 10 points in the 2024 Jordan Brand Classic …

Evan Tomes 8/29/24

Strengths: 6’6 shooting guard … Good length with a 6’10 wingspan … Innate scorer and natural shot maker. Has a balanced base and good footwork along with fluid mechanics, high release point, and ball rotation on his shot. Shoots off the dribble or catch. Can hit tough and contested shots, scores well in isolation and in the midrange. Can take smaller defenders in the post and shows a fadeaway. Threat to score from anywhere on the floor as he shoots from midrange, 3PT, and out to the NBA 3PT line … 3PT shooting: 35.7% 3PT% 5.7 3PTA EYBL 2022, 35.7% 3PT% 4 3PTA U19 World Cup 2023, 36.3% 3PT% 5.4 3PTA EYBL 2023 … Doesn’t shy away from physicality and keeps his dribble alive with contact. Draws fouls at a good rate and reliable free throw shooter. Shot 4.9 free throws per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023. FT shooting: 75.7% FT% EYBL 2022, 94.1% (16-17) FT% U19 World Cup 2023. 79.8% FT% EYBL 2023 … Good ball-handler, creates well for himself in the half-court with an array of dribble moves, and isn’t reliant on triple threat. Can create offense from scratch and doesn’t have to have a play ran for him. Solid ability to break down the defense with his dribble, changes his speed, and maneuvers his way through tight spaces … Capable of impressive passes and reads. Has room to grow as a playmaker, which had made strides over the past year, but despite that, he has a solid assist count and positive assist to turnover ratio, keeping turnovers low considering his high-volume with the ball. Averaged 2.6 assists to 0.9 turnovers per game at the U19 World Cup and 3.9 assists to 1.9 turnovers per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Solid rebounder for position. Averaged 5.6 rebounds per game over the Nike EYBL in 2023 … Good tools defensively and has his positive moments on the ball … Good aggression and confidence …

Weaknesses: Has added weight over the past year but still has a way to go improving strength … Shoots well off the catch, but doesn’t get many catch and shoot opportunities, he seems to want to take a few rhythm dribbles before going into his shot. While it speaks to his talent how he can score without having a play ran for him, he can work on scoring efficiency and getting easier shots, especially at his volume. Tends to live off difficult shots and iso situations, settling for contested shots and step backs, and can look to score within the flow more. Scoring stats: 14.8 PPG 38.1% FG% 13.8 FGA EYBL 2022, 11.1 PPG 43.3% FG% 8.6 FGA U19 World Cup 2023, 18.6 PPG 41.9% 15.2 FGA EYBL 2023 … Doesn’t get a lot of movement off the ball. Can look to get to the rim more often. Can improve left-hand around the rim, forces right hand finishes when forced to his left at times … Solid athlete but not incredibly explosive or real quick. Can show more commitment defensively and may struggle defending quicker perimeter players at the next levels … Can protect the ball better when driving … Can wear negative body language …

Outlook: Transferred to Link Academy for his senior year … Scored 19 points in the 2022 Underclassman All-American Game … Recorded 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-5 3PT), 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in the 2022 UA Next Elite 24 … 2023 Naismith High School All-American Honorable Mention …

Evan Tomes 10/29/23