Versatile Johnson Hoping To Follow In Footsteps Of Father

Camden Johnson OF / SS / Allen park, MI / 2024

GROSSE ILE - There is a lot that Camden Johnson can bring to the table at the next level.

The incoming senior at Allen Park High School can play almost anywhere on the field, something the 21st-rated 2024 outfielder in the state feels will be valuable in a college program.

“I’m a utility player,” the 17-year-old related. “At a nine-inning game in Virginia, I played a different position every inning. Wherever they need me on the field I’ll go play and play hard.”

There is more that the 6-0 170-pounder can provide.

“I have a 4.11 GPA in the classroom and had a 1210 on the SAT,” Johnson said. “I’m really working hard in the classroom.”

The same can be said about his game on the field.

“The biggest improvement for me is my 60 time,” Johnson noted. “I went from 7.0 to a sub-6.8 now. I’ve really improved by speed. I play football and basketball and with football four times a week I’m lifting and I’ve gotten a lot stronger. My outfield velo is 90-91 now, I’ve just gotten a lot stronger all around.”

The desire to make additional strides is there.

“I need to continue to get faster,” Johnson admitted. “I want to see how much I can cut down my 60 time. A lot of D-I outfielders are 6.7 and under, so I’d like to continue to improve my speed and get stronger.”

Interest is beginning to pick up for the 111th-ranked senior in the state.

“Most of my talks have been with coach (Chad) Oxendine at Longwood University in Virginia,” Johnson related. “I went in the fall to a camp there and toured after. Since then I’ve had some close talks with him.

“I’m talking with others like Central Michigan and Morehead State, but there’s been a lot of moving around by coaches at some schools.”

Getting exposure has been helpful in the eyes of the 73rd-rated uncommitted 2024 in Michigan.

“I play on a high-level team that travels,” Johnson said. “We play in big-time tournaments, a lot of PBR tournaments. I have a lot of good teammates that bring in coaches and I go to a lot of PBR showcases. I was just at the Top Prospect Games and talked to some coaches from that one. It was a cool experience at Eastern.”

PBR Michigan Director of Scouting, Adam Goodwin, likes what he’s seen in Johnson.

“He’s a versatile athlete that has gotten better each time we've seen him,” Goodwin stated. “He is into the low-90s off the bat with good speed and a strong arm from the outfield.”

Admittedly, the recruiting process is not always easy.

“At times it’s stressful,” Johnson said. “It’s baseball, so you’re gonna fail. You see coaches there and you may not have your best game. You can’t be your best every game, you just have to play your hardest and hope it all works out.”

The idea of playing college baseball came from his father.

“My dad played D-I baseball at Coastal Carolina,” Johnson noted. “Growing up I’ve wanted to follow in his footsteps. Like him, I play three sports and I’m a very competitive person.”

Johnson remembers well the season Coastal brought home a national championship.

“When they won it he and a bunch of teammates and alumni went down there,” Johnson reflected. “We were playing in Myrtle Beach at the time and he took us on the field. Coach Oxendine at Longwood was one of his teammates at Coastal and was an assistant at Coastal before becoming the head coach at Longwood.”

Now the D-I university in Virginia is just one of the schools the 18th-ranked uncommitted 2024 outfielder in Michigan is considering.

“The biggest goal is to find one that suits me, where I’m comfortable with the coach, they have good facilities and where I can get on the field my first year as much as possible, whether that’s in the infield or outfield,” explained Johnson, who believes center field is his best position.

A big month is now ahead before senior year of high school begins.

“We have a few tournaments left, so hopefully I’ll get some good exposure,” Johnson concluded. “Football starts in August, but I’ll try to go to as many camps as I can. I plan to go to a Central Michigan camp and a PBR showcase. I also would like to send out more emails.

“There’s no time frame on deciding, though it would be nice to do it soon. But that’s not always how it works.”