Predicting Texas basketball’s next 2023 commit after 5-Star AJ Johnson

Head coach Chris Beard added the second commitment to the 2023 Texas basketball recruiting class on Nov. 21. Texas added its second five-star commit of the month to the 2023 class in the form of the elite five-star Southern California Academy combo guard AJ Johnson.

The other five-star commit that Beard and the Longhorns landed in the 2023 class in the last few weeks is the elite Duncanville forward Ron Holland. Texas hauled in the commitment of Holland on Nov. 5.

Moreover, Texas was able to sign both Holland and Johnson during the Early Signing Period.

It just so happened that Johnson signed with the Longhorns at least a few days prior to actually announcing his commitment to Texas early this week.

Getting both Johnson and Holland committed and signed to the Longhorns 2023 class is huge for Beard and his staff. If these are the only two signees among high school prospects in the Longhorns 2023 class, that should be fine. Texas could fill any of the rest of the spots in the 2023 class next offseason by way of the NCAA Transfer Portal.

But there are still a handful of outstanding 2023 recruits that Texas is targeting this fall.

Who’s next for the 2023 Texas basketball recruiting class after landing 5-Star CG AJ Johnson?

Here’s a look at a prediction of who the next commitment in the Longhorns 2023 class could be following the pledge of Johnson on Nov. 21.

Marcus Adams, SF

One of the most recent Texas offers to go out was the fast-rising 6-foot-7 and 195-pound Harbor City Narbonne (CA) small forward Marcus Adams. Texas offered Adams earlier this month. This came in the midst of a bevy of offers that Adams received this fall.

Some of the other schools that have offered Adams in the last few months are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, New Mexico Lobos, Washington State Cougars, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Nevada Wolfpack.

Adams has really started to blow up on the recruiting trail since the summer. Texas looks like it got an offer to him at the right time if this staff wants to add a developing forward talent to the 2023 class that is pretty under-scouted at the moment.

On film, Adams shows the length, effort, and two-way versatility that could make him a nice fit as a role player on the wing for the Longhorns.

Adams has an intriguing offensive game as he’s improving his jump shot and he uses his length well to get to the rim and finish through contact.

On defense, Adams has the lankiness and the aggressive on-ball defensive chops that could make him a force matching up at the three or the four.

Texas has offered a few wings in the last couple of months. And since Texas doesn’t have a true wing committed to the 2023 class right now, and it loses senior Sir’Jabari Rice next year, watch out for this staff to continue to go after recruits like Adams on the trail in the next few months.