SBLive Boys Basketball Recruiting Rankings: Garfield's Koren Johnson ranked No. 5 in Washington

In an effort to shine a brighter spotlight on Washington high school basketball players, we are introducing our first-ever SBLive Boys Basketball Recruiting Rankings.

Our rankings are compiled by SBLive Basketball Analyst Dan Dickau based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. The players have been evaluated through a college recruiting lens and analyzed in four categories: athleticism, ball skills, basketball IQ and upside.

Over the next few days we will continue to roll out our Top 25 players in Washington. You can find the full rankings at the bottom of the post.

Here’s a closer look at No. 5 on the list, Garfield junior Koren Johnson.

KOREN JOHNSON

SBLIVEWARANKING: NO. 5

➡️ HEIGHT: 6-FOOT-2

➡️ WEIGHT: 170 POUNDS

➡️POSITION: POINT GUARD/COMBO GUARD

➡️CLASS: 2022

➡️HIGHSCHOOL: GARFIELD

➡️HIGH SCHOOL COACH: BRANDON ROY

➡️CLUB TEAM: SEATTLE ROTARY

➡️OFFERS: WASHINGTON, ARIZONA, WASHINGTON STATE, PEPPERDINE, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT, SAN DIEGO, MONTANA

➡️TWITTER: @KorenJohnson2

DICKAU’S ANALYSIS

ATHLETICISM: Johnson is an explosive athlete who can overwhelm the opposition with his length and quickness defensively. He doesn't let off the gas when he attacks the rim and is strong enough to finish through contact or if a lane presents itself over the top.

BALL SKILLS: I really like his ability to play either guard position because he can shoot and score it with ease while balancing making plays for others. His range is easily past the 3-point line but I would like to see some more consistency in shooting it off the catch, which is typical of a lot of guards who are comfortable with the ball in their hands.

BASKETBALL IQ: As with his younger backcourt teammate, Jaylin Stewart, he has a really good feel for the game and that will continue to grow through practices under head coach and former NBA star Brandon Roy. The thing I liked most the first time I saw him play was his ability to change speeds and directions to create space and get where he wanted on the court. He plays with a calming presence that rubs off on others.

UPSIDE: Johnson should be a major Division I player — he already has three Pac-12 offers — but it will be interesting to see if the schools recruiting him view him as a true point guard or a combo guard in their systems.

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SBLIVE WA RECRUITING RANKINGS

NO. 25: OMARI MAULANA, LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

NO. 24: KELSON GEBBERS, BREWSTER

NO. 23: TYCE PAULSEN, CURTIS

NO. 22: GAVIN MARRS, ELLENSBURG

NO. 21: COBI CAMPBELL, PUYALLUP

NO. 20: TYLER BILODEAU, KAMIAKIN

NO: 19: COOPER CHURCH, TAHOMA

NO. 18: CAYDEN MCDANIEL, WILSON

NO. 17: QUIN PATTERSON, MOUNT SI

NO. 16: TYLER MRUS, SEATTLE PREP