2020 G/F Puff Johnson Gives Notre Dame Official High Marks

Notre Dame has been ramping up its pursuit of Donovan ‘Puff’ Johnson in recent months and that resulted in the 2020 Pennsylvania guard/forward taking an official visit to South Bend this past weekend.

“They have been on me for a long time now,” the 6-foot-7, 185-pounder explained. “The coaches have shown a lot of interest and coming to my school. That’s one of my favorite coaching staffs, honestly. Coach mentioned something about me visiting and I thought this was the right time, so it worked.”

The trip did not disappoint.

“It was good,” said Johnson. “I can’t complain. The coaching staff was great. I didn’t get to meet the players, but everything there was just a great vibe.

“I got to see the campus. I got to meet with the administration people. Of course, I was with the coaches. We saw the facilities, their practice facility and all of that, the gym. I met with a lot of people and just talked about me fitting in and how it would be.”

Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey and his staff explained why they think the Moon Area High School star would be such a great fit.

“Coach was talking about versatile wings,” Johnson recalled. “He said I could play 2 through 4 and that I can cover. He said I check those boxes. He said, honestly, I’m a plug-and-play. He wants players who are ready to come in and he thinks I could be ready and just work on my body more. He thinks I could be a good player for them.”

Johnson has offers from schools like Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Ohio State and Arizona among others.

He was impressed with new basketball-specific practice facility on campus.

“It was real nice,” said Johnson. It’s got a nice locker room, nice practice facility, nice weight room. It’s real nice and brand new and a nice atmosphere.”

Johnson took an official visit to George Washington several months back. He doesn’t have any others planned as of now, but said, “I probably will in the near future.”

He said he isn’t sure where yet, though.

“I don’t really have a clear-cut list,” said Johnson, who has taken unofficial visits to Ohio State, Pitt and Penn State.

He doesn’t have a clear-cut timeline for a decision either.

“I’m just taking it as it comes to me,” he said. “I’ll see what coaches come and try to develop a relationship with each one.”

The younger brother of recent North Carolina star Cam Johnson said Notre Dame is “definitely” a school he will be giving serious attention to moving forward.

“It’s a great school, great atmosphere, great coaches. It just seems like it’s a players’ type of environment. Even in school, it just seems like a place to be.”