Chris Johnson to Kansas: "It's a good choice to get to the next level"

On3 imageby:Gerry Hamilton08/02/22

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Missouri City, Texas – On3 Consensus 4-star guard Chris Johnson committed to the Kansas Jayhawks Tuesday at the T.J. Ford Academy.

The 6-foot-4 combo guard with point guard vision and feel selected Kansas over Ole Miss, Alabama and Arkansas after making an official visit to Lawrence the last weekend in July.

The Jayhawks offered the No. 29 ranked prospect in the updated On3 Top 150 for the 2023 cycle October 26, 2021. Since that time, the entire Kansas staff continued to recruit the ultra athletic guard out of the Lone Star State. Bill Self and Norm Roberts were regularly seen watching Johnson during the live periods in the spring and summer.

When it comes to the best person to talk about Johnson as a player, T.J. Ford is a simple choice. Johnson has been working with Ford for more than five years.

Former NBA point guard T.J. Ford on Chris Johnson

“You getting a kid that is going to work extremely hard, and a kid that is dedicated to winning,” Ford told On3. “Chris is going bring a sense of intensity everyday that he is in the gym, and on the basketball court. Kansas is a good choice that he is making for himself, with an established coach that can handle a guy of his pedigree. It’s a good choice to get to the next level.”

Johnson is listed as a combo guard and point guard in the industry. Ford sees a combo guard in today’s game.

“Chris is a combo kind of guard in today’s terms. I think when you look at his ability to handle the basketball, I think he’s a guy you can always shift over to the point guard to be able to make decisions. Ultimately, him as a defender and getting in transition, I think he brings a lot of intangible things you will get to see at Kansas. And I think Bill Self and his staff will be able to display things like that of his talent.” Johnson is ranked as the No. 27 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus, the average ranking from all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 7 ranked combo guard. Johnson will spend his senior year of high school at powerhouse Montverde Academy (Fla.).

Johnson is the first commitment for Kansas in the 2023 class.