It is widely known that 2017 Spain Park (AL) guard Jamal Johnson is an Alabama legacy recruit, as his father, Buck, starred with the Crimson Tide during his college days. New head coach Avery Johnson has as good a shot as anyone to gain the younger Johnson’s services in the future, but there is going to be some serious competition.

Calls and text messages have been pouring in for Johnson, a talented 6-foot-4 combo guard. Since the June 15^th deadline for coaches to contact rising juniors, Johnson has seemingly heard from every school in the SEC – with the exception of Kentucky.

“Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Stanford, Georgia, UAB, Missouri, Florida, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State have contacted me,” Johnson told HoopSeen.com. “Georgia was the first school to reach out.”

Several head coaches are already making Johnson a priority, as they touched base with him early in the process. He has spoken to head coaches from Auburn, Georgia, Alabama, and UAB thus far.

“All of the discussions have been great.”

Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl was actually the first head coach to contact Johnson. He made a big statement during their phone call.

“He told me that he is going to be recruiting me hard, and he likes the way I play and the way I carry myself,” Johnson explained.

Alabama’s Avery Johnson had a similar thing to say:

“Coach [Avery] Johnson just said I had a great spring and that I looked good.”

Johnson holds offers from Alabama, Auburn, UAB, Georgia, Kansas State, Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and Murray State, among others.

While it is still early, it looks like this recruitment is going to be a classic Iron Bowl scrap, as Bruce Pearl and Avery Johnson are prepared to handle Johnson’s recruitment themselves.