NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State men's basketball coach Ryan Pedon has announced the signing of 6-3 point guard Johnny Lackaff to a Financial Aid Agreement (formerly known as National Letters of Intent) and will begin his college basketball career for the 2027-28 season.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Johnny Lackaff and his family to our Redbird basketball program," said head coach Ryan Pedon. "Johnny is a multi-dimensional guard that will bring great size, skill, and basketball IQ to our program. Johnny plays with a competitive edge that we love, and he can really shoot and score the ball. He is a leader on and off the floor and a high academic student in the classroom. In his time at Sarasota High School, he has helped to elevate their basketball program to become a powerhouse in the state of Florida. These qualities, along with his tremendous work ethic made him a real priority for us in the recruiting process."
Lackaff, a native of Sarasota, Florida, is rated 246th nationally, and is the 44th-highest rated point guard in the country according to the 247sports composite rankings. He is a two-time Sarasota Herald Tribune area Player of the Year.
"He has all of the characteristics that we look for, and we feel that he will help Redbird Basketball compete for championships," said Pedon. "We could not be more excited about announcing the addition of Johnny Lackaff to our Redbird Basketball family!"
Last season as a junior he averaged 23.4 points per game while shooting 47 percent from long range. He also averaged 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.7 steals while making 78 three-pointers for the 25-7 Sailors. He was 78-of-165 from beyond the arc, and 124-of-145 (86 percent) from the charity stripe. He earned Region MVP honors that season, helping his squad to the Class 7A state title game as he had 27 points (5-of-9 from long range) with four rebounds, three steals, and two assists in the championship game.
He averaged 21.9 points per game as a sophomore, helping Sarasota High School to a 28-3 record and a berth in the Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A state semifinals. During his freshman season he averaged 13 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, converting on 56-of-133 three-point shots (42 percent), while making 90 percent of his free throw attempts.
