Janae Johnson Janae Johnson 6'0" | SF Little Rock Central | 2028 State AR stepped onto the ranking scene last summer after a great showing at the Houston Hoops Basketball Evaluation in Little Rock, and then she backed up her strong play with an incredible sophomore season with the Lady Tigers.

Throughout the season, Johnson proved just how dangerous she was on offense. She is long and athletic, basically being unstoppable once she has a look inside, as she is able to score over the top of any defender. Johnson is also an underrated shooter, and that is a part of her game that will continue to evolve for her.

The rising junior uses her length and athleticism to make a significant impact on the glass and on the defensive end. She has a superb leaping ability, and she snags rebounds better than 95% of the forwards in the state. On defense, no one is getting around her, thanks to her long reach and quick feet.

Janae Johnson Janae Johnson 6'0" | SF Little Rock Central | 2028 State AR has turned some heads so far this summer, and I don’t think that will stop anytime soon, especially after picking up an offer from Hendrix College recently.

Johnson gave me a nice first look as she was another “long and athletic” player who did some damage on both ends of the court. She scored around the basket, as well as on putbacks, yes, she rebounded on both ends, yet her interior defense looked good, so did her timing to block, alter, and “or” deflect shots

When I first watched Janae Johnson Janae Johnson 6'0" | SF Little Rock Central | 2028 State AR at the Houston Hoops basketball evaluation event this summer, I just knew that she was going to be a star. So far, I have been proven right.

One of Johnson best performances by far was her 33-point, 7-rebound outburst against Greenwood earlier this month. Through 3 games in the NB Classic this month, Johnson averaged 15 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2 steals a contest.

Johnson is an incredible finisher, but her outside shot is too lethal to warrant her open along the perimeter. As a 6’0″ small forward, she is too tough to deal with in the paint, as she can score over any defender. On defense, she is also a pain, as her long wingspan makes her a threat to steal every pass and block any shot.

Janae Johnson Janae Johnson 6'0" | SF Little Rock Central | 2028 State AR is quickly turning into a star. Keep an eye on her and this solid Central squad this season.

Janae Johnson Janae Johnson 6'0" | SF Little Rock Central | 2028 State AR will be entering her freshman season with the Central High School Lady Tigers in Little Rock, and I think she will star immediately.

I will admit, I did not know much about Johnson before this event, but after seeing her play on both ends of the floor, I am very impressed. There is no way she is only 5’10”, as her length outmatched everyone else on the floor. Johnson was finishing with ease in the painted area and doing so with both hands. Until I saw her shoot right-handed, I did not know which hand was her dominant one; that’s how smooth and comfortable she was at finishing.

From the outside, Johnson proved that she could stretch the floor. She did not hesitate when she had open jumpshots, knocking down multiple mid-range and 3-point looks throughout the evaluation. Her length also troubled opposing players on the other end.

Johnson came into this event on the Watch List, and she left ranked in the 2028 class. Keep an eye on this future star.