UNC Basketball: Donovan Johnson makes decision on reclassification

Class of 2020 UNC Basketball recruiting target Donovan “Puff” Johnson has made his decision on reclassification, a big update to his recruitment.

The North Carolina Tar Heels are still in the running for class of 2020 four-star small forward Donovan “Puff” Johnson but they will have to wait a little while longer.

For the past few weeks rumors have swirled that Puff, the younger brother of former UNC standout Cameron Johnson, could reclassify to 2019. He was ruled ineligible to play in his senior year of high school and the possibility of reclassification being a serious possibility.

On Wednesday, Johnson and his family made their decision and have decided to stay in the 2020 recruiting class. The News & Observer’s Jonathan M. Alexander reported the news on Wednesday afternoon citing Puff’s father as the source. Here is what he said in the News & Observer’s story:

"North Carolina basketball recruiting target Donovan “Puff” Johnson, the younger brother of former UNC star Cam Johnson, will not reclassify to the Class of 2019.Gill Johnson, Puff’s father, told The News & Observer Tuesday that the family did consider having him reclassify as well as play overseas next season. But they decided against it. Puff Johnson will remain in the Class of 2020."

The 6-foot-7, 185-pound forward is ranked as the No. 49 overall player in the 2020 class and No. 13 at his position per the 247 Sports composite rankings.

Johnson has been on UNC’s campus a lot lately, working out with his older brother Cameron after he was drafted by the Phoenix Suns. It gave Puff more time to spend on the campus in Chapel Hill, a possible advantage for the Tar Heels.

As it stands now, Arizona might be the front runners to land Johnson. They hold 80% of the five Crystal Ball predictors for Johnson compared to the 20% for the Tar Heels. With his older brother Cameron set to play in Phoenix, it could give Puff some time to visit Arizona’s campus more often during the recruiting cycle.

Johnson holds a total of 17 offers from schools like UNC, Arizona, Pitt and Notre Dame among others. While he doesn’t have an official decision date in mind, his father did tell Alexander that one would be coming “hopefully soon.”

For more on Johnson and other UNC Basketball recruiting targets, please check back with Keeping It Heel.