DeLaSalle guard Jarvis Johnson (@MuhneyyChief_12), who signed with #Gophers today, said: "I want to start a trend." pic.twitter.com/avQ5j2Dl5Z
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) November 12, 2014
Minnesota’s top basketball recruit in the Class of 2015 is now officially staying home. DeLaSalle High School’s Jarvis Johnson on Wednesday signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the Golden Gophers.
“I just wanted to kind of start a trend here,” Johnson told Marcus Fuller of the Pioneer Press. “Hopefully getting some of the younger guys that the Gophers are recruiting to come with me and play with me the following year.”
Johnson announced in September that he would attend the University of Minnesota, but nothing was official until Wednesday’s signing.
VIDEO: DeLaSalle senior guard guard Jarvis Johnson picks the #Gophers http://t.co/kSCkCrNA5g
— Marcus R. Fuller (@Marcus_R_Fuller) September 13, 2014
Johnson signing is a breath of fresh air for Gopher nation following last year’s in-state miss on top recruits Tyus Jones (Duke), Rashad Vaughn (UNLV), Reid Travis (Stanford) and J.P. Macura (Xavier).
Rivals ranked Richard Pitino’s 2015 recruiting class No. 26 in the country. Headlining the class are point guard Kevin Dorsey (four-star, Maryland), shooting guard Dupree McBrayer (three-star, Kansas), and forward Jonathan Nwankwo (three-star, New York).
“The Gophers wanted backcourt help and they have gotten it. Dorsey isn’t a giant, but he plays with loads of heart and is an off the dribble playmaker. McBrayer is a long and slender score first guy who can play as a shooting or point guard while Johnson is an athletic guard with lots of upside. Nwankwo has good size and Big Ten strength.”
ESPN’s Recruiting Nation ranks Johnson as a four-star recruit, who also received scholarship offers from NCAA powers Michigan State, UCLA, Wisconsin, Creighton, Iowa State and others. Johnson, a 6-foot-1 guard, is listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.
Jarvis was a key player, along with Travis, on DeLaSalle’s impressive streak of three consecutive Class 3A (the second largest class in Minnesota prep basketball) state championships.
Check back later today for more National Signing Day updates.
