Johnson Considering Three Schools

Justin Johnson, a 6-8, 215 pound power forward from Merrillville H.S. in Merrillville, Ind., said he is seriously considering three colleges this spring.

Johnson told the Insiders Report/Rivalshoops.com that he is looking to take official visits to Southern Illinois and St. Louis, and is also hearing from Rutgers.

"A lot of schools are calling me and recruiting me," Johnson said. "I have visits set up to Southern Illinois and St. Louis, and possibly one to Rutgers University."

Johnson was granted a release from his scholarship to Kansas State earlier this spring. Johnson took his only official visit of the fall to K-State and signed with the Wildcats during the NCAA early letter of intent period.

Johnson, who said he has already been through the NCAA Clearinghouse as a full academic qualifier (21 ACT score), could take as many as four official visits this spring before making a decision.

"There are a couple of other schools trying to recruit me, but it's just mainly those three that I have the most contact with," Johnson added.

Johnson said he plans to visit Southern Illinois from Apr. 26-28, and then St. Louis (May 3-5). He has offers from both of those schools, although Rutgers has yet to take the plunge in terms of offering a scholarship or working out details of the visit.

Johnson has also pondered the idea of attending prep school in the fall. He said he has been in contact with both Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and Maine Central Institute.

"I don't know about prep school yet," he said. "I am just weighing my options right now."

Johnson played with Bob Pryor's Bloomington Red program last spring and summer. A fine run/jump athlete who is most effective when he is active on the glass, Johnson tends to drift in and out of games. But when he is crashing the boards and filling the lanes in transition, he can be a very potent force on offense.

We'll keep you posted on Johnson's recruitment as the spring signing period unfolds, so stay tuned....