Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (5/31)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.  

Recruits

Milton coach David Boyd said one of his three prized juniors, 6-foot-9 power forward Julian Royal, has UGA, Georgia Tech and Wake Forest as his favorites. ...“Julian Royal’s recruiting has been very intense,” Boyd told the AJC. “I think his three favorites, and I’m not going to put them in any order, are Georgia, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech.” Royal has around 40 major-college offers. Why those three? “With Georgia, I just think [Mark Fox] has done outstanding work there,” Boyd said. “They got Marcus Thornton, which really turned a lot of heads. That was very impressive. Georgia is an up-and-coming program and a state school. “Georgia Tech is close to home, in the ACC, and they have sent a lot of guys to the NBA. “Wake has always been a school highly interested in Julian, even with the coaching change.” Boyd said that Royal is also taking looks at Alabama, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Virginia. “He has not really made any decision [narrowing down schools yet]. He hasn’t given me a list. But those three — Georgia, Wake and Tech — are the three schools I keep hearing about the most during our conversations.” When will Royal make his college decision? Before his senior season begins? “That’s a good question … I don’t know,” Boyd said. “I think it would take a lot of stress off Julian if he decided during the summer or fall. But that’s up to him.” AJC 5/27

Nick Johnson is constantly overshadowed on the basketball court. At Findlay Prep last season, he played alongside Texas signees Cory Joseph and Tristan Thompson. With the Oakland Soldiers on the AAU circuit, he is teammates with five-star prospects Jabari Brown (see latest on Brown’s white-hot spring and recruitment HERE) and Kyle Wiltjer (more on Wiltjer coming soon). Typical with his easygoing personality, though, Johnson does not mind one bit. “I mean, I know my time will come with Findlay, and with the Soldiers, I’m not really worried about scoring because we have plenty of that,” Johnson said. “So I just try to do everything else.” NBE Basketball 5/27

Starting today in Los Angeles at the Hangar Athletic Xchange (HAX), these UA targets will compete in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL): Sidiki Johnson, Angel Nunez, Anrio Adams, Jamal Branch, Torren Jones, Dominic Artis, Josiah Turner, Nick Johnson, Jabari Brown, Brandon Ashley and Jahii Carson. Since this is not an approved summer evaluation period by the NCAA, college coaches can not attend these events, but they can receive video to watch. Tucson Citizen 5/29

There may not be a more impressive backcourt on the grassroots circuit than the Drew Gooden Soldiers trio of Nick Johnson, Jabari Brown and Josiah Turner. Mix in mighty might point guard Kiwi Gardner and the group from Oakland rolls out a pretty impressive group of perimeter players. On Saturday, Johnson was an absolute terror. As usual he got loose for big dunks in transition. But, more importantly, he was dialed in with his jumper and showed off the ability to create for others when needed....Finally, Turner -- who listed Kansas, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Kentucky and Syracus -- can play a variety of roles. Need him to distribute? No problem, he can get others involved and create off the dribble. Need him to score? He can do that to whether it's off the bounce or via the jumper. Gator Bait 5/30

There might not be a better combo forward rebounder in the class of 2011 than Branden Dawson. He is explosive in traffic and has an insatiable thirst for tracking down the ball. His competitive zeal and physicality are at the top of the charts, and he will be a force in the college game. Whether or not he can take his game to the NBA level is still very much a question. At 6 feet 6 he is undersized for his skill set. He has limited shooting range and doesn't handle the ball like you would expect an NBA small forward to handle it. There is plenty of time for development, however. With his work ethic, Dawson could very well develop the skills he needs to play at that level. Dawson continues to maintain that Indiana and Purdue are his two top schools, so Indiana certainly has a chance to land him. I would give the unofficial edge to Purdue, though. Demon Bulletin 5/30

Nick Johnson, SG, 6-3, Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep: “Way more explosive than I remember him to be, and has added some good muscle. Has room to grow, though. Had a chance to dunk on a guy, but backed off and ended up having his shot blocked. He needs to bring it. If he does, he’s elite.”  Tucson Citizen 5/30