In recent years, Syracuse basketball has picked up numerous commitments from the powerhouse IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
The Ascenders, one of the top independent basketball academies around the country, have a new head coach who did a tremendous job over the past few seasons guiding an elite prep-school program in the Northeast.
According to a post on X, IMG has named Jackson Johnson to lead its national team. Most recently, he was the head coach of The Newman School in Boston, which, in the 2025-26 campaign, went 38–3 overall and captured the New England Basketball League ("NEBL") title, the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council ("NEPSAC") Class AAA crown and, in mid-March, the national prep championship.
Welcome to the family, Coach Johnson! 🏀
— IMG Academy Basketball (@IMGABasketball) May 26, 2026
Jackson Johnson is the new Head Coach of IMG Academy Boys National Basketball after back to back NEPSAC AAA titles and a 2026 National Prep Championship. The future is bright in Bradenton. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/T31vQNID5a
Johnson compiled a 108-49 overall record at Newman, according to MaxPreps. In 2025-26, IMG sported a 20-9 overall mark. In the final top 25 from ESPN in high school boys' basketball, the Ascenders were No. 22 nationally, although they didn't qualify for the season-ending Chipotle Nationals.
IMG had been a founding member of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League Scholastic ("EYBL Scholastic"), but when this loaded high school hoops conference expanded to 20 teams in 2025-26, the Ascenders didn't remain a member of the EYBL Scholastic. Still, IMG plays an extremely challenging national schedule.
Syracuse basketball coaches will continue to recruit IMG hard.
Orange rising sophomore power forward Sadiq White Jr. spent his senior year at IMG. The same is true of rising junior power forward Donnie Freeman, who played for two seasons at SU before transferring to St. John's this offseason. Other former Syracuse basketball players have competed for IMG's national team and its post-grad squad in recent campaigns.
At IMG's national team, Johnson takes over for Sean McAloon, who led the Ascenders since the 2017-18 stanza and was 193-60 overall in Bradenton, according to media reports.
Meanwhile, The Newman School has also named a new head coach to replace Johnson, and he is Justin Perron. Over the past several years, Perron has served as the head coach at the St. Mark's School in Southborough, Mass.
Welcome to Boston, Justin Perron! Newman is thrilled to announce Justin Perron as the head coach of the Cardinals! Justin has spent the past 4 years rebuilding the St. Mark’s program culminating with the 2026 New England Championship! Newman is fortunate to have Justin’s… pic.twitter.com/dblX6h99j2
— Newman School Basketball (@Newman_Hoops) May 22, 2026
According to the team's Web site, in 2025-26, St. Mark's went 22-6 overall and won the NEPSAC Class B Large championship. Last season, Newman was led by 2026 four-star power forward Quinn Costello, who is signed with Michigan, and 2026 four-star shooting guard Lucas Morillo, who is committed to Illinois.
The former Syracuse basketball staff had offered a scholarship to Costello, although the Orange was never a big-time contender for him. SU coaches also evaluated Morillo on the AAU circuits, but I don't believe he was ever officially offered by the Orange.
Declan Griffiths, a 2027 four-star wing and the younger brother of a former 'Cuse four-star recruiting target, will spend his senior season at Newman. Earlier this month, amid a live period in grassroots hoops, the 'Cuse staff watched Griffiths as he suited up for the 17U team of the Boston-based Middlesex Magic in the Under Armour Association ("UAA") league.
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