He’s just a sophomore, but TCU basketball already interested in this two-sport star
It’s never too early to get a head start in the recruiting world it seems. Just ask the TCU men’s basketball program.
The Horned Frogs became the first basketball program to offer Jacobe Johnson a scholarship … for 2023. Johnson is entering his sophomore year at Mustang (Oklahoma) High School, but he’s already projected to be one of the most sought-after athletes in his class.
TCU hopes to have an inside edge in recruiting as Johnson’s father, Malcolm, played for TCU. Malcolm Johnson was one of the standouts for the Horned Frogs squad that reached the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
“Getting an offer from TCU is very big because that’s where my pops went to school,” Jacobe said. “It was exciting. I’ve been to campus once when they had a reunion for all the former players. It was fun.”
Johnson is a 6-foot-3, 187-pound prospect who describes himself as a “big guard” on the court. He averaged 16.3 points a game last season as a freshman and says he is confident in his ability to pull up from mid-range or take it to the rim.
But basketball isn’t Johnson’s only sport. He is also a highly touted football prospect who plays wide receiver and defensive back at Mustang. The Oklahoman mentioned Johnson as possibly the state’s top recruit in basketball and football in the 2023 class.
That is hard to argue as Johnson has received D-I scholarship offers in both sports. TCU, which offered a basketball scholarship on Monday, was Johnson’s first followed by Oklahoma State and Oklahoma later in the week. Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Baylor are among schools who have expressed interest in him for football.
Johnson is listed by recruiting sites as an “athlete” in football as programs will have to determine his best position at the college level.
It’s still early in his recruiting process, but Johnson is hopeful to land at a school where he can play both sports. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the only schools that have offered him in both sports for now. He said TCU’s football program hasn’t shown interest in him yet.
“I do want to play both sports at the next level. That’s what my goal is,” Johnson said. “I don’t like one more than the other. When it’s basketball season, I don’t care about football. When it’s football season, I don’t care about basketball. That’s where I’m at. I want to play both sports at the college level. That’s what I’m going to try and do.”
For now, Johnson is embracing the recruiting process. He’s just 16 years old and is flattered that so many big-time programs are already showing interest.
Johnson hasn’t even had time to really sit down and talk with his dad about TCU’s offer yet, or any other school for that matter.
“I didn’t think I’d start getting offers until the end of my sophomore year,” Johnson said. “It is what it is. It’s very exciting, but I am shocked. Once I get some time and we’re allowed to [amid the coronavirus pandemic], I’ll start trying to plan visits and meeting with coaches and stuff like that.”
This story was originally published June 28, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
