Keon Johnson, Tennessee's top college basketball prospect, to pick Vols or Ohio State on Tuesday

It's decision time for Webb School's Keon Johnson – the top men's college basketball prospect in Tennessee.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5 senior, is the No. 1 prospect in the state for the Class of 2020, according to the 247Sports Composite, as well as the No. 6 shooting guard in the country and No. 31 overall prospect.

He will choose between Tennessee and Ohio State at his church – Bird Street Church of Christ in Shelbyville – at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Johnson purposely planned to make his announcement on Tuesday. It falls on the date his younger cousin Malachi Sparrow died in a car wreck. 

"Me and my other cousin (Shelbyville senior Gary Smith III) were really close to him," said Johnson, who was the Tennessean's 2019 Boys Basketball Player of the Year. "We were around 5, and he was 4 when he passed."

Johnson's final three originally included Virginia. However, the defending NCAA national champion has filled its 2020 class.

Johnson averaged 24.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.0 steals a year ago for the Feet, leading them to the Division II-A state semifinals for the second straight season.

Summer season

Johnson participated in the USA Basketball Men's Junior National Team mini camp in late July in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was named the camp's MVP.

That came after his final summer playing for Elite Amateur Basketball during the AAU season.

"I got to grow more as an individual," Johnson said. "EAB put me on the best platform I believe out there."

Johnson said his perimeter shooting improved during the offseason. It was something he focused on in AAU.

"My ballhandling also improved," Johnson said. "I wanted to be able to handle the ball as a point guard," Johnson said. 

Why Ohio State and Tennessee

Johnson is the son of former Auburn player and two-time Tennessee Miss Basketball Conswella Sparrow Johnson.

Johnson believes he can help improve both Ohio State and Tennessee immediately.

"I feel like I can go in and make an immediate impact as a freshman at both programs," Johnson said. 

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.