Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
Memphis has landed its first verbal commitment since officially joining the Big East Conference.
Geron Johnson, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Dayton (Ohio) Garden City College averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, pledged to the Tigers Thursday.
“I think he really was excited about playing for Coach [Josh] Pastner,” Garden City coach Kris Baumann told SNY.tv. “I think he was excited about them going to the Big East his senior year.”
Johnson also considered Kansas, Wichita State, Marshall and Washington, but only visited Kansas and Memphis.
“I know coach [Damon] Stoudamire being on the staff was a big influence on him as well,” Baumann said. “Geron has visions of himself being an NBA player someday and he really wanted to work with a guy that can teach him about how to play at that level. I think there were just a lot of things he really liked and thought it would be a good fit for him.”
Baumann said he doesn’t think Johnson is a one-and-done, and thus he will get to play in the Big East in the 2013-14 season.
“I think he plans on being there two years and getting his degree,” he said. “I think he’s going to play both his junior and senior year and then get his degree. That’s pretty much what he has planned, but you never know.”
Johnson joins Shaq Goodwin, a 6-8 power forward from Decatur, Ga., and 6-5 small forward Damien Wilson of Oak Hill Academy in Memphis’ 2012 recruiting class.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Memphis has landed its first verbal commitment since officially joining the Big East Conference.
Geron Johnson, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Dayton (Ohio) Garden City College averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, pledged to the Tigers Thursday.
“I think he really was excited about playing for Coach [Josh] Pastner,” Garden City coach Kris Baumann told SNY.tv. “I think he was excited about them going to the Big East his senior year.”
Johnson also considered Kansas, Wichita State, Marshall and Washington, but only visited Kansas and Memphis.
“I know coach [Damon] Stoudamire being on the staff was a big influence on him as well,” Baumann said. “Geron has visions of himself being an NBA player someday and he really wanted to work with a guy that can teach him about how to play at that level. I think there were just a lot of things he really liked and thought it would be a good fit for him.”
Baumann said he doesn’t think Johnson is a one-and-done, and thus he will get to play in the Big East in the 2013-14 season.
“I think he plans on being there two years and getting his degree,” he said. “I think he’s going to play both his junior and senior year and then get his degree. That’s pretty much what he has planned, but you never know.”
Johnson joins Shaq Goodwin, a 6-8 power forward from Decatur, Ga., and 6-5 small forward Damien Wilson of Oak Hill Academy in Memphis’ 2012 recruiting class.
