A commitment from four-star small forward Isaiah Johnson-Arigu moved the 2024 Miami basketball class to 13th nationally. Johnson-Arigu and four-star shooting guard Austin Swartz would give Miami its highest-ranked class since 2017 if the Hurricanes remain 13th nationally.
The 2017 Miami basketball class signed guards Chris Lykes and Lonnie Walker, center Deng Gak and forward Sam Waardenburg. Walker was selected 18th in the 2018 NBA Draft, Lykes was the leader of the team as a sophomore and junior and Waardenburg was the starting center as Miami advanced to the 2022 Elite Eight.
Johnson-Arigu is the 100th-ranked player, 24th small forward and second player in Minnesota out of Minneapolis Totino-Grace per the 247 Sports composite rankings. At 6’7 and 190 pounds, Johnson-Arigu is the type of wing who will fit in perfectly to the four-out, one-post style that Jim Larranaga likes to play.
Johnson-Arigu chose the Miami basketball program over Iowa, Northwestern, Texas Tech, and Virginia Tech. On3 quoted Johnson-Arigu stating that he is a three-level scorer and compared his game to Miami basketball alum Jordan Miller. The On3 scouting report stated that Johnson-Arigu has a 7’0 wing span,
Jim Larranaga and his staff are building off the 2022 NCAA Tournament run to the Midwest Regional Final and 2023 Final Four trip. Miami has no seniors on its 2023-24 roster. Larranaga and his staff will not know who they will lose until the end of the 2023-24 season. Miami has 11 scholarship players on its 2023-24 roster.
NCAA Division I basketball teams can have 13 scholarship players on their roster. Miami has room for Johnson-Arigu and Swartz even if everyone returns for the 2024-25 season. Johnson-Arigu and Swartz will add depth as freshmen with bright futures on the wing who fit the Larranaga system.
Johnson-Arigu told Rivals that his father Peter is a coach for NBA Africa and that he hopes to play for the Nigerian National team next year. Johnson-Arigu is at his best attacking the basket. Swartz is an elite outside shooter. Johnson-Arigu and Swartz will complement each other well in the Larranaga system.