Opportunity is a crucial component of player development. Accumulating game reps, particularly in basketball, is vital for an individual’s general understanding and comfort level on the court. We’ve seen countless prospects blow up after becoming the focal point for a noteworthy team, and that feels like exactly what’s going to happen for Logan Johnson as the go-to option for Carmel Christian. During the last two years with the Cougars, Coach Tamar Slay found a lot of success with guys like Kam Taylor and Bryce Slay in similar leadership roles. Let’s look at what Johnson should bring this group…
Although he earned his first offer (Western Carolina) in October of 2023, it’s fair to say that Johnson started turning heads last summer after receiving a scholarship to Radford and announcing his transfer to Ambassador Christian. He had a breakout junior season for the Lions, averaging 12.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, and 1.4 SPG with 38/31/75 splits. His efficiency fluctuated at times, but it was clear that Johnson was trending upward. He added offers from Duquesne and NC A&T, yet still felt somewhat under-recruited given everything he’d shown throughout the high school season.
Fast-forward to now, and it feels like Johnson has all the necessary resources at his disposal. Of the 1143 shots attempted by Carmel Christian last season, 1039 of them came from seniors. That’s an insane amount of production to replace. Fortunately, Johnson’s game should allow him to absorb a massive offensive burden. He’s a smooth creator and shot-maker with the ability to fill it up in a variety of ways. Johnson has visibly improved his handle to become an all-around scorer, but is still comfortable in spot-up situations. His change of pace allows him to consistently generate space and create clean looks off the dribble. Johnson mixes it up very well to keep defenses guessing. He displays an impressive range of threes, pull-ups, and crafty finishes around the basket. Johnson is a willing passer with useful initiation ability and feel as a playmaker. He’s a solid rebounder for his size and displays consistent energy on defense. It’s unclear exactly how the season will unfold, but Division I coaches should start preparing for Johnson’s inevitable blow-up.