Syracuse Basketball: Could Dior Johnson Orange tenure be in jeopardy?

Syracuse basketball coaches are concerned that 2022 commit Dior Johnson could end up putting himself in a precarious academic position, per a report.

On Monday, I penned an article where I opined that Syracuse basketball 2022 commit Dior Johnson likely was done at the Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., although nothing official had come across from either Johnson or the prep school.

Then, on Tuesday, Mike Waters of Syracuse.com broke the news that Johnson “will not be allowed to return to the prep school or its prominent basketball program,” according to Waters’ report, citing Oak Hill Academy head coach Steve Smith.

The 6-foot-3 Johnson, a five-star point guard in his junior season of high school, had left the Oak Hill Academy a few weeks ago to reportedly rehab a stress fracture in his foot, but media reports said that he had not withdrawn from the powerhouse prep-school program.

Now, Johnson’s short-lived career at the Oak Hill Academy is over, and it’s unfortunate. I really had looked forward to watching Johnson suit up alongside Orange 2022 high-priority target Zion Cruz, a five-star guard, at the Oak Hill Academy. Cruz, by the way, recently revealed that he would transfer to The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J.

Syracuse basketball 2022 commit Dior Johnson, sadly, is done at the Oak Hill Academy.

Johnson has competed at a handful of high schools over the last couple of years, something that ‘Cuse fans like to point out, and where he lands next is unclear.

Waters writes that several “high-profile prep schools were interested in Johnson, but he apparently shunned those offers.” This statement in the Waters story is particularly troubling to read. “There is growing concern among the Syracuse coaching staff that Johnson could be putting himself in academic jeopardy,” Waters reports.

Johnson, rated as high as No. 3 nationally in his class by 247Sports, could ultimately elect not to attend college on the Hill, even if just for one stanza, and head straight to the professional ranks. However, it would seem that, no matter which path he ends up taking, Johnson needs to get his academics in order.