Men’s Basketball: Recruiting notebook — Top targets descend on Des Moineshttp://amestrib.com/sports/men-s-basketball-recruiting-notebook-top-targets-descend-des-moines#sthash.tYEjjftm.dpuf[snip]
An expanded role for PG Johnson
Jarvis Johnson spent last spring and summer as the understudy for one of the nation’s premier players, Tyus Jones, while playing up with the Howard Pulley 17U EYBL squad.
This year, with Jones moving on to Duke, it’s Johnson’s team.
“It’s different,” Johnson said Friday at the Midwest Spring Tune-Up at Kingdom Courts. “I’ve really got to pick up from where Tyus left off, but I think we’ve got a good group of guys this year and we can go far.
“It’s a lot but I think I can handle it.”
Filling Jones’ shoes means more than just trying to replicate his high-level play.
“Just being a leader as much as I can,” Johnson said. “Not a lot of guys played out here last year so I have to step up and be the leader I can be.”
Marquette and new coach Steve Wojciechowski have entered the picture for Johnson’s recruitment.
“I’ve recently been talking to Marquette since they got the new coach,” Johnson said. “Me and him have got to know each other a little bit and Kansas still.“Those are probably the latest two.”
Iowa State still remains in the picture for Johnson, whose sister Seanna plays for the ISU women’s team.
“Yeah, they are,” Johnson said. “It’s good. I talk to (assistant) Matt (Abdelmassih).”
Johnson hopes to attend the LeBron James Skills Academy along with the Kyrie Irving point guard camp this summer.