Syracuse basketball offers 4-star guard from west coast, who wants to visit

Syracuse basketball has offered a scholarship to 2025 four-star combo guard DeMarco Johnson, a fast-rising prospect from the west coast, he recently revealed on Twitter.

The 6-foot-3 Johnson is a top-100 national prospect in the rising-junior cycle, according to several recruiting services. He’s also rated a top-20 point guard/shooting guard in the 2025 class, several recruiting Web sites say.

Johnson attends the powerhouse Southern California Academy in Northridge, Calif., where former Orange target Drew Fielder, a 2023 four-star center who is committed to Georgetown, has also been playing.

On the AAU circuit, Johnson competes for the 16U squad of the Oakland, Calif.-based Oakland Soldiers in Nike’s EYBL league. In non-EYBL events, he also plays for the Los Angeles-based Elev8 Elite, an Adidas-sponsored program.

Syracuse basketball has gotten into the mix for 2025 four-star combo guard DeMarco Johnson.

Cory DeSanti, the head coach of Elev8 Elite, said that the Orange’s lead recruiter for Johnson is Syracuse basketball assistant coach Allen Griffin.

I’ve been told that Johnson, whose grandparents are from New York, is excited by the ‘Cuse offer and hopes to take a visit to Syracuse basketball in the near future. That would prove an encouraging development for the Orange’s chances in Johnson’s growing recruitment.

According to recruiting services, media reports and his Twitter page, besides Syracuse basketball, Johnson’s offer sheet includes Illinois, Virginia Tech, California State University, Northridge, High Point, California, TCU, Mississippi State, St. John’s, Georgia, Arizona State, New Mexico State, Southern Utah and Duquesne.

Additionally, Johnson has reportedly heard from numerous schools since June 15, when the contact period for his class opened up, allowing college coaches to initiate direct communication with 2025 prospects.

https://twitter.com/eric_hampford/status/1667534267620945920

Per reports and other sources, teams that have reached out to Johnson include Gonzaga, Southern California, Memphis, Seton Hall, Mike Hopkins-led Washington, UCLA, Arkansas, Penn State, Wake Forest, Maryland and Saint Mary’s, among others.

Last month, Johnson earned high praise from national analysts and scouts for his play at the prestigious 2023 Nike Elite 100 Camp. During the spring and summer, he’s also put together some strong performances and displayed his shooting prowess for the Oakland Soldiers on the AAU circuit.

At the EYBL’s annual Peach Jam tournament held earlier this month in North Augusta, S.C., Johnson averaged 10.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists per contest for the Oakland Soldiers, a program whose 17U division features Syracuse basketball priority recruit Mikey Lewis, a four-star point guard who will spend his senior year at the juggernaut Prolific Prep in Napa Valley, Calif.

When I penned this column, On3 had Johnson as four stars, No. 80 nationally, No. 13 at point guard and No. 10 in California within the 2025 cycle. Over at 247Sports, he was rated four stars, No. 97 overall, No. 15 at point guard and No. 10 in California.