Larranaga gets first 2012 pickup

Miami adds NYC-native and lights-out shooter, Melvin Johnson

Melvin Johnson decided to become a Hurricane. 

The 6-3, 188-pound guard verbally pledged to Miami Sunday, choosing the Hurricanes over Georgetown and Dayton. 

"I felt very comfortable and I'm a competitive player who can score and make other players better," Johnson told Fivestarbasketball.com.

Johnson left Rice High School in Manhattan after the school closed last year, and is now part of a deep backcourt at St. Benedict's in Newark, New Jersey, that includes junior point guard Tyler Ennis and freshman combo guard Isaiah Briscoe.

Despite the controversy swirling around the Miami athletic program, Johnson has no second thoughts about picking Miami. 

“They explained what happened to them and what’s their consequences or whatever,” Johnson previously told SNY.tv. “It’s not too big of a deal on a basketball standpoint, just a past thing. And it’s a new coaching staff.”

Johnson's ranked No. 51 nationally at the point guard position by ESPNU and becomes Miami's first 2012 commit for coach Jim Larranaga. 

“His scoring ability is unbelievable,” St. Ben's coach Mark Taylor told SNY.tv in late September. “At times, I’ve never seen anybody that I’ve coached score the way he can score in bunches. Melvin needs to get a little bit better handle, a little bit better defensively. I think Melvin at some point, with development at the right school, could be a pro.”