A combination forward, Durand Johnson (pronounced "Dur-Ron") redshirted the 2011-12 season. Johnson has been described as a terrific shooter with NBA range who can make big shots and score at a high level. Johnson is as smooth a shooter as they come. He has a great shot fake, range on his jumper and quick trigger with the ability to pull off the catch or step back. Johnson has also added a dribble drive to his game, can get to the basket with ease and rebounds well for his position. He has great size and is an above the rim finisher. A quality player who is fun to watch and plays with toughness, Johnson is also one of the best defenders in his class because of his length, athleticism and competitiveness. His size, versatility and competitive nature are his strengths. Johnson makes things happen, is a threat to score every time he touches the ball, but also plays within the framework of his team.
2011-12
Redshirted the 2011-12 season.
HIGH SCHOOL
Played the 2010-11 season at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H., for head coach Jason Smith...Helped guide Brewster to a 31-3 overall record, the No. 1 national ranking for the majority of the season and berth in the National Prep Championship Semifinal Game where it lost a 76-71 decision to Notre Dame Prep (Mass.)...Brewster won its first 24 games before losing its first contest...Guided the Bobcats to the NEPSAC Class 3A semifinals before dropping a 90-74 decision to St. Thomas More (Conn.)...Led Brewster to the New Hampton Invitational Tournament title with a 22-point performance in an 80-72 win over New Hampton...Finished with 17 points vs. Notre Dame Prep in the Brewster Invite...Led team with 18 points in National Prep Showcase vs. Princeton Day Academy...Competed in the 2011 Elite Showcase Basketball Classic in Washington, D.C....Played his senior season at Baltimore's Lake Clifton High School for Head Coach Herman Harried...Averaged 15 points per game while leading the Class 3A Lakers to a 15-6 overall record and No. 10 state ranking...Graduated from Lake Clifton H.S....Transferred to Lake Clifton prior to his senior season...Played his sophomore and junior seasons at Parkville High School where he averaged 19.0 points per game as a junior...Played his freshman year at St. Frances H.S....Competed for the AAU Team Cecil Kirk where he was coached by Anthony Lewis...Impressed at the AAU Nationals in Orlando, Fla., the HoopGroup Elite Camp in Reading, Pa. and West Virginia Jam Fest...Shined at the I-95 Challenge with 19 points...Earned All-Tourney Team honors at the Big Shots Invitational in King of Prussia, Pa....Rated the nation's No. 90 recruit by 247 Sports/Sports Illustrated...Ranked the nation's No. 115 player overall and No. 29 forward by Rivals.com...Ranked the nation's No. 88 player nationally by Scout.com...Ranked the nation's No. 39 forward by ESPN-U...Ranked the nation's No. 147 player by NBE Basketball.
PERSONAL
Born Durand Johnson on June 17, 1992...Son of Derrell and Tonia Johnson...Brother Derrell is a starting defensive end at East Carolina University...Nickname is "Pee-Wee"...Cousin of DePaul basketball player Cleveland Melvin...Devotes his hard work and success to his mother Tonia and father Derrell because "they were always there for him since day one"...Committed to Pitt on August 16, 2010...Chose Pitt because the Panthers were a "perfect fit," along with the "team, coaches and the fans" and the fact that the Panthers were "there from day one"...Said that Pitt "was a great place" and that "once you are a Panther, you are family forever"...Becomes the fourth Baltimore area player to play at Pitt over the last three years including Jermaine Dixon, Chase Adams and Aron Nwankwo...Played at Brewster Academy with several other NCAA Division I basketball scholarship players including Naadir Thorpe (Kansas), Markus Kennedy (Villanova) and Jakarr Sampson (St. John's)...Made an unofficial visit to Pitt on Oct. 23, 2009...Entertained more than 20 scholarship offers and chose Pitt over Florida State, Maryland, Louisville, Georgetown, St. John's, Seton Hall, Marquette and Cincinnati...Enrolled in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences.
