New point guard recruit Johnson top of the class for Pitt, Capel

Since taking over four years ago, Pitt men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel has been criticized for not landing top-ranked recruits. That may have all changed Monday with the commitment of four-star point guard Dior Johnson.

Johnson is one of the top point guards in the 2022 class and the 37th overall player by 247 Sports and is the highest ranked prospect to commit to the Panthers during Capel’s tenure. Previously, that honor belonged to John Hugley who was the 99th best player in the 2020 class. 

Johnson should provide immediate help to a backcourt which has only one point guard, Colgate transfer Nelly Cummings, on the roster.

Prior to his commitment, Johnson was the top available high school recruit. A 6’3” native of Saugerties, N.Y, Johnson played last season for Southern California Academy. He also played for a litany of other top high school programs including Findlay Prep, IMG and Oak Hill Academy before spending the past few years in California at Mayfair, Centennial High School and Prolific Prep. He never stayed very long at one school which has also been a trend so far with his college commitments.

He previously committed to Syracuse before then signing with Oregon. After the Ducks brought in two upperclassmen point guards, Johnson was granted a release from his letter of intent. The trepidation Pitt fans may have is warranted, though, for all intents and purposes it does seem like Johnson should follow through with his commitment beyond signing day.

Johnson becomes the fourth recruit of the 2022 class joining center Fede Federiko, forwards Jorge and Guillermo Diaz Graham and guard Cashius McNeilly. They join transfers Cummings, combo guard Greg Elliott and forward Blake Hinson.

Coming off an 11-21 season and with only five returning scholarship players, Capel needed to add quality and quantity at all positions and now, with the addition of Johnson, his work seems to be complete.