Tony Johnson, who played for the Eufaula Tigers through his junior season, signed a basketball letter-of-intent Wednesday with the University of Central Florida.
Johnson left EHS after last season and transferred to Berkmar High School in the Atlanta, Georgia, metro area where he was also a member of The Skill Factory, an organization that polishes basketball players' skills all the way to current NBA members.
The signing ceremony took place at Eufaula's Hampton Inn before a large contingent of family, friends and former coaches.
Johnson averaged 24 points, 6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game as a senior.
"It was a great move," Johnson said. "I made so many friends, relationships that will last a lifetime. I missed my friends here, but I know it was what was best for me. Atlanta is kind of a mecca of high school basketball. I learned the game on a totally different level.
"NBA guys all come to work out at The Skill Factory - James Harden, John Wall, Jarrett Jack, Quinn Cook. Also, the top college guys came by. Having that environment was great."
UCF is coached by former Duke great point guard Johnny Dawkins. The Knights lost a heartbreaker - 77-76 - to Duke in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.
Johnson is a point guard and said he expects to start for UCF as a freshman because he will be the only such player at that position on the roster.
Also on the UCF staff is Eufaula native, assistant coach Robbie Laing.
Johnson was a finalist for the Class 5A Player of the Year as a Eufaula junior.
He is the son of Deltonia Corbin and Tony Johnson Sr.
Johnson said he also had offers from Auburn, Alabama, TCU and Minnesota.
"UCF will probably start next season in the Top 25," Johnson said. "They had a great year. It's the biggest campus in the country; hard to pass up on that."
"It's a great day not only for Tony but for Eufaula," said Pastor Rick Butler, who also coached Johnson as a youngster on a traveling league team. "He could have easily stayed in Atlanta but he wanted to come back here for this. I coached him as a scrawny kid in the 5 grade. He had the drive and passion and put the work in."
Butler noted that Johnson is "a straight A student and an honor student."
EHS Head Coach Michael Smith said when he got Johnson he was a chubby kid, but noted that he put long hours in the gym to improve his game.
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