UVA basketball coach Tony Bennett lands top prospect

CHARLOTTESVILLE—New Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett has landed a commitment from San Diego prep star James Johnson.

After taking his official visit to Charlottesville over the weekend, the 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward canceled scheduled visits to Arizona and Oklahoma, both of which had offered him scholarships.

“He just seemed to really hit it off with the coaches from the very beginning,“ Ted Johnson, James’ father, told The Daily Progress. “Being back on campus this weekend just really sealed the deal. “He said, ‘Dad, I just feel like Virginia is the place for me.‘ Coach Bennett was just tremendous, as were the other coaches. There was just something about those guys.“

Bennett’s first recruiting class is shaping up to be much stronger than many had anticipated. In addition to Johnson, Bennett has landed guards K.T. Harrell and Joe Harris and forward Will Regan.