===Michigan State University===Although Johnson was recruited by several top-ranked colleges such as Indiana and UCLA, he decided to play close to home.
V svoji zadnji srednješolski sezoni je Johnson " Lansing Everette" popeljal do razmerja zmag in porazov 27:1 s povprečjem 28,2 točke in 16.8 skoka na tekmo ter tudi do zmage po podaljšku v finalni tekmi prvenstva.