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.
Karron Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound power forward from Mount Zion Academy in North Carolina who has been compared to Kenyon Martin, says Seton Hall is his No. 1 choice at this point.
Johnson said he has a “great relationship” with Pirates head coach Bobby Gonzalez as well as assistants Derm Player and Scott Adubato.
“I really like their personality,” Johnson said Thursday at an event for Friday’s Boost Mobile Elite 24 event that will be televised live on ESPNU. “You don’t want to go somewhere and you don’t have good relationships with the coaches, so I’m basically looking for a great relationship wherever I go.
“I’m actually considering Seton Hall as a real big choice for me. I am going to take a visit to Seton Hall sometime in November. We’re actually working that out right now.”
He added: “(My decision) will probably be over with by November.”
Ranked the No. 14 power forward and the No. 45 overall player in the Class of 2009, Johnson said he’s also considering USC, UCLA, Miami, Memphis and Virginia.
“I’m looking to play the three in college,” he said. “RIght now I’m a combination between the four and the three. I think I can bring explosiveness, hype-ness if you will. I’m a very hyped person on the court, talking trash and stuff like that, so I think I’ll bring a lot of that to the school.”
Gonzalez scouted Johnson during the Vegas tournaments in July, and Johnson said Gonzalez “likes my attitude.”
“He heard I was a little hot-headed in the past, but every game he went to he liked my energy and he said I play with others well, and he likes that about me,” he added.
As for the Boost Mobile event, he said he’s enjoyed his time in the city and can’t wait for the big game.
“I’ve never been to Rucker before so this is all new to me,” Johnson said. “I used to live in Brooklyn in my younger days, then I moved to Richmond, Va.”
LAING TO FRANCESpeaking of Seton Hall, former Pirate Brian Laing has signed to play professionally in France.
A first-team All-Big East selection, Laing averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 boards last season.
“Brian Laing is a very complete player,” head coach Jean Manuel Sousa said. “He is a very aggressive player in penetration, which causes many fouls and is very skillful with the free throws. He also has good perimeter shooting and can even hit the three-pointer.”
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.
Karron Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound power forward from Mount Zion Academy in North Carolina who has been compared to Kenyon Martin, says Seton Hall is his No. 1 choice at this point.
Johnson said he has a “great relationship” with Pirates head coach Bobby Gonzalez as well as assistants Derm Player and Scott Adubato.
“I really like their personality,” Johnson said Thursday at an event for Friday’s Boost Mobile Elite 24 event that will be televised live on ESPNU. “You don’t want to go somewhere and you don’t have good relationships with the coaches, so I’m basically looking for a great relationship wherever I go.
“I’m actually considering Seton Hall as a real big choice for me. I am going to take a visit to Seton Hall sometime in November. We’re actually working that out right now.”
He added: “(My decision) will probably be over with by November.”
Ranked the No. 14 power forward and the No. 45 overall player in the Class of 2009, Johnson said he’s also considering USC, UCLA, Miami, Memphis and Virginia.
“I’m looking to play the three in college,” he said. “RIght now I’m a combination between the four and the three. I think I can bring explosiveness, hype-ness if you will. I’m a very hyped person on the court, talking trash and stuff like that, so I think I’ll bring a lot of that to the school.”
Gonzalez scouted Johnson during the Vegas tournaments in July, and Johnson said Gonzalez “likes my attitude.”
“He heard I was a little hot-headed in the past, but every game he went to he liked my energy and he said I play with others well, and he likes that about me,” he added.
As for the Boost Mobile event, he said he’s enjoyed his time in the city and can’t wait for the big game.
“I’ve never been to Rucker before so this is all new to me,” Johnson said. “I used to live in Brooklyn in my younger days, then I moved to Richmond, Va.”
LAING TO FRANCE
Speaking of Seton Hall, former Pirate Brian Laing has signed to play professionally in France.
A first-team All-Big East selection, Laing averaged 18.6 points and 6.9 boards last season.
“Brian Laing is a very complete player,” head coach Jean Manuel Sousa said. “He is a very aggressive player in penetration, which causes many fouls and is very skillful with the free throws. He also has good perimeter shooting and can even hit the three-pointer.”
