Derek Johnson, a 6-foot-5 forward prospect from Burlington County Institute of Technology in Westhampton, New Jersey, is a player to watch over the next year. An underclassman and member of the 2011 class, Johnson, a current junior, has grown and added strength to his frame.
Due to his physical improvement, Derek is now tougher to handle near the rim. One of the better coaches that has a good feel on player development, Matt Pauls of Team NJABC, believes he'll be a division one player down the road.
"He's made a lot of progress," said Pauls. "I expect to see many colleges taking a look at him this season."
PREVIOUS THOUGHTS ON DEREK'S INDIVIDUAL GAME:
Derek first caught the eye of many when he had an impressive college camp held at St. Joe's in Philadelphia, Penn. during the summer. He competed for NJABC for the 16 and under program at some summer events.
Derek has some perimeter range to 15 feet but is currently a more productive and effective in the paint and near the basket.
Derek can rebound and works hard close to the rim. He has a nice frame and uses it to grab loose rebounds.
WHAT TEAM NJABC'S MATT PAULS THINKS OF DEREK JOHNSON'S INDIVIDUAL GAME:
He has huge upside and works very hard. Most importantly, he is a great young man and teammate. He is new to the grassroots scene, but is on track to having many college options.
EARLY COLLEGE INTEREST:
MAAC and NEC schools are the primary division one programs that are currently monitoring Derek's individual game.