Andrew Pace
Brandon Johns Jr. is a highly-coveted sophomore forward from East Lansing, Michigan, who plays for the University of Michigan Wolverines basketball team. In 2019, Johns Jr. was preparing to face Indiana, with Michigan head coach John Beilein noting that the player had been making progress in practice and was more capable of going further as the game slowed down for him. Johns Jr. had been touted as the second-best player in the state of Michigan and was rated No. 60 in ESPN's Class of 2018 Top 100.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Brandon Johns Jr. |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Position | Forward |
| High School | East Lansing High School |
| College | University of Michigan |
| Major | Sociology |
| Year of Birth | 1999 |
| Notable Games | 2019 game against Indiana; 2017 game against Sexton |
| Awards | Associated Press Class A Player of the Year (2017); Lansing State Journal Player of the Year (2016, '17) |
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What You'll Learn
Brandon Johns Jr. played for the Michigan Wolverines
During his time with the Wolverines, Johns experienced an uneven career. He appeared in 117 games, with 25 starts, but averaged just 12.4 minutes per game. His role as a potential stretch four capable of making perimeter jumpers never fully materialized, and he finished his time with the Wolverines with a 3-pointer percentage of 33.3%.
Despite his limited playing time, Johns had some notable performances with the Wolverines. He scored 22 points in his collegiate debut against Norfolk State and had a season-high eight points against Indiana. He also led East Lansing to 24 straight wins during his junior year and averaged 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks.
After his time with the Wolverines, Johns transferred to VCU, where he started all 34 games and was second on the team in scoring with 11.6 points per game and third in rebounding with 5.2. He then signed with Alba Fehérvár, part of Hungary’s top league, where he will continue his basketball career as a professional player.
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He was a highly coveted recruit
Brandon Johns Jr. was a highly coveted recruit for the Michigan Wolverines basketball team. Despite the constant presence of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo at many of Johns' prep games, the 16th-ranked power forward and second-best player in the state of Michigan elected to become a Wolverine. Johns Jr. committed to John Beilein ahead of his senior year at East Lansing High School.
Johns was rated No. 60 in ESPN's Class of 2018 Top 100, No. 1 in the State of Michigan, and No. 8 in the Region. He was also a finalist for the State of Michigan's Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, finishing second in voting. In addition, he was named Associated Press Class A Player of the Year in 2017, first team in 2016, '17, and '18, and was part of the Detroit News Dream Team in 2017 and '18.
Johns' transition to college basketball was slow, and he played sparingly throughout his freshman year. However, he introduced himself to the conference with an eight-point, eight-rebound performance against Indiana, filling in for injured starter Isaiah Livers. After the game, Indiana head coach Archie Miller said, "He's a good player. He got his opportunity, his role tonight and he obviously took advantage of it with the foul trouble and whatnot."
Johns Jr. was seeking a breakout sophomore campaign with Michigan, but an ankle injury threw a wrench into those plans. However, coach Juwan Howard spoke highly of Johns entering his second season, saying, "(He) has a beautiful shot, (he is) athletic and skill-wise he still hasn’t tapped all the way into what he has...Once he figures that part out? Woah, this kid’s interesting."
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Johns Jr. was rated No. 60 in ESPN's Class of 2018 Top 100
Brandon Johns Jr. is a highly-rated basketball player who has represented East Lansing High School, the University of Michigan Wolverines, and the USA at youth level.
Johns Jr.'s high school performances earned him several accolades. He was named the Lansing State Journal Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, and was included in their Dream Team in 2018. He was also named in the Detroit Free Press Dream Team in 2018, and the Detroit News Dream Team in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, he was the Associated Press Class A Player of the Year, and was named in the first team for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018.
The forward was a highly coveted recruit, with Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo attending many of Johns Jr.'s prep games. However, Johns Jr. chose to commit to the University of Michigan Wolverines.
Johns Jr. made his breakthrough for the Wolverines in January 2019, in a game against Indiana. With regular starters Isaiah Livers and Jon Teske out due to injury, and Austin Davis in foul trouble, Johns Jr. was given his opportunity. He impressed with eight points and eight rebounds, and earned praise from head coach John Beilein, who said:
> "Really good kid, love him. Absolutely love him. He also has, like many of our guys, another gear that we're trying to get out of him and he will."
Johns Jr. suffered an ankle injury ahead of the 2019-20 season, but was expected to make an impact for the Wolverines, either off the bench or in the starting four spot.
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He was a sophomore forward from East Lansing, Michigan
Brandon Johns Jr. is a sophomore forward from East Lansing, Michigan. He was born on December 14, 1999, in Lansing, Michigan, to parents Havilah and Brandon Johns. Johns Jr. is a highly coveted recruit who committed to John Beilein ahead of his senior year at East Lansing High School. Despite the constant presence of Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo at many of Johns' prep games, he chose to become a Wolverine.
Johns Jr. was rated No. 60 in ESPN's Class of 2018 Top 100, No. 1 in the State of Michigan, and No. 8 in the Region. He was also a finalist for the State of Michigan's Hal Schram Mr. Basketball award, finishing second in voting. In 2017, he was named the Associated Press Class A Player of the Year, and in 2016, 2017, and 2018, he was named to the Detroit News Dream Team and the Detroit Free Press Dream Team.
As a sophomore in high school, Johns Jr. led East Lansing to 23 straight wins before falling to Lansing Everett, finishing the season 23-1. He averaged 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. In his junior year, he once again led East Lansing to a highly successful season, with 24 straight wins before falling to Kalamazoo Central in the Class A regional title game.
Johns Jr.'s transition to college basketball was slow under Coach Beilein, but he showed his potential in Michigan's home win over Indiana. He was also preparing to have a breakout sophomore campaign with the Wolverines under new coach Juwan Howard before suffering an ankle injury. However, Howard has spoken highly of Johns Jr.'s potential, praising his athletic ability and beautiful shot.
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Johns Jr. suffered an ankle sprain on his right foot
Brandon Johns Jr., a sophomore forward from East Lansing, Michigan, suffered an ankle sprain on his right foot. This injury caused a minor setback for the Wolverines forward, who was expected to have a breakout year for the 2019-20 Michigan Basketball season. The timeline for his return to the court was initially unclear. However, his injury was not considered to be a long-term issue. Once he recovers, Johns Jr. will be logging many of his minutes at the four spot.
Johns Jr. has demonstrated his potential on the court, most notably in Michigan's home win over Indiana. During that game, he filled in for an injured Isaiah Livers and scored a career-high eight points, along with eight rebounds and two dunks. Over his first 28 games, Johns Jr. averaged 4.2 minutes per game, exceeding 10 or more minutes only four times.
The ankle injury may have limited his practice time, which could have hindered his progress in addressing the concerns from his freshman year, where he played all 28 games off the bench. Despite this setback, Johns Jr. is determined to showcase his talent and contribute to the team's success.
Juwan Howard, his coach, has expressed confidence in Johns Jr.'s abilities, praising his athletic skills and potential for growth. Howard believes that once Johns Jr. figures out how to fully tap into his capabilities, he will become an even more exceptional player.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Brandon Johns Jr. has not played basketball for Indiana. He has played against Indiana for the Michigan Wolverines and East Lansing High School.
Yes, Brandon Johns Jr. played for East Lansing High School before joining the Michigan Wolverines.
Yes, Brandon Johns Jr. was a highly coveted recruit. In his sophomore year, he led East Lansing to 23 straight wins, averaging 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks. In his junior year, he led the team to 24 straight wins, averaging 20.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks.
