Story Poster
Notre Dame Basketball

Top 2020 Hoops Target Puff Johnson Talks Top 7, Notre Dame

August 8, 2019
4,633

As Puff Johnson continues to make his way through the recruiting process, the 2020 Pennsylvania swingman took a significant step earlier this week, when he trimmed a long list of scholarship offers to seven schools.

“They were the ones contacting me the most,” Johnson told Irish Sports Daily. “They’ve reached out to me a lot and really shown that they want me for the upcoming years.”

Notre Dame, Arizona, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Ohio State and Pitt were the schools that made the cut.

“The places that I have visited like Notre Dame, Miami, North Carolina, Pitt, Ohio State have had great atmospheres and I can’t speak highly of them and their coaches and what they can do for you not just for four years, but after basketball ends,” Johnson continued.

“It gives me schools that I can start focusing on more. When sitting down and talking with my family, instead of looking over 20-something schools, we’re just looking at seven schools, a select few that I think fit me the best and that I think I can grow the most at.”

In recent months, Johnson thought about the possibility of reclassifying to the Class of 2019, but is now locked in as a member of the 2020 class.

He took an official visit to Notre Dame in early-June.

“Notre Dame is a school with a great legacy,” the 6-foot-7 guard/forward said. “When I visited there, it was my first official, it was just a great atmosphere. They really don’t just sell you on what they can do for you now or what they can do for you basketball-wise, but how you can provide for yourself and go around the world when basketball ends.

“One of the positives about Notre Dame was education. I met with a whole bunch of the people who deal with education and it was real good. I just got to learn more about Notre Dame and what it’s really like. It’s not just a basketball school. It’s more of a place that wants the best for you and wants you to succeed even if basketball doesn’t work out. Notre Dame really shows that they can provide and help you provide for yourself after basketball.”

Johnson, who hasn’t set any future visits yet, doesn’t have the next steps in the process laid out just yet.

“I just take it day by day,” he said. “I didn’t even know I was putting my seven out until the morning.

“I don’t have a set date to commit or to trim it down. I just take it step by step and see what comes next.”

 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.