Tennessee basketball signees Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer have been named to the 25-man 2020 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Boys High School Midseason Team, qualifying each of them as finalists for the Naismith High School Boys Player of the Year Award.
The Atlanta Tipoff Club identifies athletes and coaches from around the country who exemplify outstanding talent and success. The Naismith High School Trophy for Boys Player of the Year is among the highest honors a high school basketball player can receive.
Tennessee joined Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina as the only four programs in the nation to have multiple signees make the 25-man Naismith midseason team.
Johnson and Springer join fellow signee Corey Walker Jr. to comprise what ranks as the nation’s fifth-best basketball recruiting class according to ESPN and Rivals.com.
Springer is a 6-4 guard from Charlotte, North Carolina, who is attending IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is rated as a top-20 prospect nationally.
Last year, Springer played a key role in leading IMG Academy to the 2019 Geico High School National Championship while averaging 18.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. IMG Academy is currently ranked No. 2 in the state Florida and 20th in the country.
Johnson is a 6-5 guard out of Shelbyville, Tennessee, who attends The Webb School in Bell Buckle. He is currently rated as the No. 1 overall prospect in the state of Tennessee and is the state’s two-time reigning Division II-A Mr. Basketball. Johnson also is rated as a top-25 prospect nationally.
Before a knee injury late in 2019, Johnson averaged 30.5 points and 10.5 rebounds early in his senior season. He could potentially return to action before TSSAA postseason play.
The competition for the Naismith High School Trophy for Boys Player of the Year continues, as the Atlanta Tipoff Club will further narrow its list to 10 semifinalists early next month. The five finalists are announced on Feb. 20, and the 2020 Boys Player of the Year will be revealed March 10 in Atlanta.
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