Panthers land top combo guard

By Chris Dokish

The Pitt basketball staff has struck gold again, this time landing 6'1" combo guard John Johnson of Girard HS in Philadelphia. Johnson, who is the Panthers first recruit for 2011, plays in a small classification, but has proven in all-star games and in AAU competition that he has excellent potential. One college assistant who was recruiting Johnson told us off the record that, "with more exposure he will be considered a top 50 prospect".

Johnson, who according to some is reminiscent of Villanova's Scottie Reynolds, is actually more athletic and faster than Reynolds, while also adding excellent offensive potential.

Johnson has point guard skills, but according to sources close to the situation, the Panther staff is dreaming of playing Johnson alongside 6'2" PG Isaiah Epps, a 2010 recruit that will play this season at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia. The potential pairing of two top 50 talents could potentially make for the most explosive and electrifying back court tandem in Pitt basketball history.

Johnson was only recently coveted by the Panthers who were looking instead for a big shooting guard, but according to a source close to the situation, Johnson "was just too good to pass up". The Panthers now will look to add a small forward and a post player with their two remaining scholarships.

Johnson was offered by Villanova, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, Penn State, and Virginia Tech, among others.