2023 five-star recruit and combo guard AJ Johnson has announced his de-commitment from the Texas Longhorns. The likely “one and done” prospect has also announced his intentions to join the Australian professional basketball league, the NBL. This will give him professional basketball experience for a year before he enters the league when he declares for the 2024 NBA Draft. During the NBL season, he will be playing for the Illawarra Hawks. This is the NBL’s NEXT Stars program where promising prospects can play for one year with the league before they declare for the NBA Draft.
5?? PG AJ Johnson has decommitted from Texas, per @wojespn.
He is now set to play in the Australian NBL for the Illawarra Hawks.https://t.co/nUOsb8UMgK pic.twitter.com/QnUhDALPi6
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) April 13, 2023
The NBL and the Illawarra Hawks specifically have become one of the go-to destinations for some of the top talents coming out of high school. AJ Johnson has been projected to be a “one and done” talent for some time now, but his status as one now is all but cemented. NBL prospects in the NEXT Stars program are meant to be “one and done” talents. This is a setback for the Texas Longhorns, but with the transfer portal, they will be able to find someone that can fill that roster spot next season. While losing Johnson is a blow, Head Coach Rodney Terry will be just fine.
