California high school guard A.J. Johnson, a projected 2024 NBA draft lottery pick, told ESPN on Thursday that he has decommitted from the Texas Longhorns and signed a deal with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League in Australia.
Johnson, a 6-foot-6 senior at the Southern California Academy, is the highest profile American prospect to leap to the NBL's Next Stars program since Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball spent the 2019-2020 season in Australia on his way to becoming the No. 3 pick in the NBA draft.
Johnson, who will be represented by agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, is currently the projected No.