James Johns has been hired as a volunteer assistant coach for the Southwest Mississippi men’s basketball team. He comes to Summit from Dallas, TX, after one season at Advanced Prep International.

A native of Paulsboro, NJ, Johns attended the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, playing basketball for the NCAA Division 1 Hawks. He then attended West Chester University, in Pennsylvania, and played NCAA Division 2 ball for the Golden Rams. He graduated from West Chester, in 2001, with a B. A. degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Johns began his coaching career with two years at Wilmington Friends High School in Delaware before moving on to three years at Life Center Academy (Burlington, NJ). At Life Center, he worked with former #1 NBA draft choice Pervis Ellison. He next moved to Advanced Prep where he coached McDonald’s All-American Terrence Ferguson.

For seven years, Johns has been a coach for WE R 1, an AAU squad sponsored by Under Armour.

In 2008, Johns received a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from American Intercontinental University in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Johns is the father of 12-year-old twins, Jasmine and James, Jr.