Syracuse basketball staff to check out 4-star PG DeMarco Johnson, per AAU coach

This weekend on the shoe-sponsored AAU circuits, Syracuse basketball coaches and their peers around the country will be out and about watching high school prospects in person amid the spring's first live period.

I anticipate that the Orange staff will be checking out various recruiting targets during sessions conducted by the AAU leagues, and one of those players is 2025 four-star point guard/shooting guard DeMarco Johnson from the West Coast.

The 6-foot-4 Johnson is a top-125 national prospect and a top-25 point guard in the 2025 cycle, according to several recruiting services. He holds a range offers and picked up a scholarship offer from the 'Cuse in late July of 2023.

In grassroots basketball, Johnson is running with the 17U team of the Los Angeles-based Elev8 Elite, which is competing in the New Balance-sponsored Prelude League. This weekend during the NCAA-permitted evaluation period, The Prelude League is conducting a session in Indianapolis.

Cory DeSanti, the head coach of Elev8 Elite, said in a post via his X page that numerous college squads, including Syracuse basketball, will be on hand to watch players with his AAU program. DeSanti confirmed to me that the Orange staff will be in attendance for Johnson.

Syracuse basketball coaches are expected to watch 2025 four-star guard DeMarco Johnson this weekend.

Johnson attends Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. According to recruiting services, beyond the 'Cuse, his offer sheet includes teams such as West Virginia, Arizona State, Texas, St. John's, Mississippi State, California, Georgia, Illinois, TCU and Virginia Tech, among others.

DeSanti has told me that the Orange's lead recruiter for Johnson is assistant coach Allen Griffin. DeSanti has also shared with me in the past that Johnson has an interest in visiting Syracuse basketball, so we'll see if that pans out.

Historically speaking, the 'Cuse staff has offered scholarships to more than 20 prospects in the 2025 class, including numerous at the guard positions. A few of these offers have come out in recent weeks, including one to four-star combo guard Acaden Lewis from Washington, D.C., who plans to visit the Orange soon.