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Posted on Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 5:45 a.m.

Ypsilanti's Jaylen Johnson offered by Michigan State as recruiting stock continues to rise

By Kyle Austin

Jaylen Johnson came into his own as he helped lead Ypsilanti High School to within a game of the Breslin Center in March.

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Jaylen Johnson grabs a rebound against Saginaw High during a state playoff game in March.

Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com

Since then, he’s continued to stand out on summer hoops circuit. And his recruiting stock has risen accordingly.

Johnson was offered a scholarship during a Michigan State basketball camp, the Tom Izzo Summer Shootout, over the weekend, according to Ypsilanti coach Steve Brooks. He adds his first Big Ten offer to a growing list of high-major offers that includes Oregon, Arizona State, Texas A&M, Miami and Iowa State, Brooks said.

“He’s had a pretty good summer so far,” Brooks said.

All three major recruiting services have Johnson ranked among their top 100 players nationally. ESPN has him ranked No. 62, Rivals has him No. 64 and Scout has him 97. All three have him as the highest-rated rising senior in Michigan.

Johnson had a strong end to the high school season, when he averaged 13.8 points and more than eight rebounds per game in five playoff games, leading Ypsilanti to the state quarterfinals.

The recruiting notice comes primarily from Johnson’s performance at showcase camps throughout the spring.

“They’re not as structured as high school games, so a kid really gets a chance to kind of show what he can do because there aren’t going to be any double teams or traps or things to really stop a guy from flourishing,” Brooks said.

Brooks said Johnson’s improvement throughout the last year has been a result of a player young for his age gaining maturity and learning how to use his athleticism.

“He’s still like 16 as we speak heading into his senior year,” Brooks said. “A lot of those things were just being able to mature. He’s always been a skilled athlete, but a lot of times you just have to wait until to wait until that light comes on for them to see the difference in what they really can do.”

Jaylen Johnson summer highlights:

Kyle Austin covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kyleaustin@annarbor.com or 734-623-2535. Follow him on Twitter @KAustin_AA.

Comments

glacialerratic

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 7:27 p.m.

The headline needs revision.

Kyle Austin

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 2:25 a.m.

Good point, I kind of got into the recruiting jargon with that one I guess

Frustrated in A2

Sat, Jun 29, 2013 : 1:17 a.m.

Kyle, should it say "...offered scholarship by Michigan State..."? Just curious, that's what threw me until I read the article.

Kyle Austin

Fri, Jun 28, 2013 : 7:44 p.m.

How so, glacialerratic?