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Recruiting Wrap

Four more offers for Jeff Johnson

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Thursday, September 3, 2009 8:59 AM

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Champaign Centennial senior Jeff Johnson was not a well-known recruit at this time last year. But the 6-foot-8, 230-pound power forward is now a hot commodity for several Division I schools after averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds and helping the Chargers claim the Class 3A title last winter.

Johnson now holds at least eight scholarship offers, earning four in the past month. IUPUI, Florida Gulf Coast, Murray State and the University of Illinois-Chicago were the latest schools to extend offers to the Centennial standout. Johnson earned offers from Eastern Kentucky, American, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Penn earlier in the summer.

"It feels good," Johnson said. "A year ago, I never would have imagined it being like this. It can get a little hectic sometimes, believe it or not, especially now in August that (coaches) can call you twice a week. Everyone wants you to come visit. It's a lot, but it's a great opportunity, and I'm thankful for it."

Johnson said one of the newest schools to offer is especially intriguing.

"IUPUI, they've shown a lot of interest, more than some of the other schools that have shown interest," Johnson said. "I like what they've done over there. They have a really great coach. They're a winning program. They get to the conference championship almost every year. That'd be a great place for me to go, I think."

Johnson broke down the other schools to offer.

UIC: "UIC, they've had really good teams. They have a really good coach (Jimmy Collins). They play in a really, really good league, and they have a really good chance to win every year."

Florida Gulf Coast: "They've been at the top of the OVC the last couple of years. They always have a shot to get to the tournament."

Murray State: "Florida Gulf Coast, they just turned Division I not to long ago, I'm pretty sure. It's always pretty tempting to go to a school down in Florida."

Johnson took his first official visit last weekend to Eastern Kentucky, a school high on his list. The Centennial senior said he toured the Richmond, Ky., campus, met with professors and academic advisers and chatted with coaches and players.

"It was a really good trip," Johnson said. "I could see myself going there. ...I felt strongly about them before. I definitely feel even better about them now."

Johnson said he is constantly asked where he plans to attend college but that he has no plans of making a decision soon. He said he will take an official visit to IUPUI and could possibly schedule trips to Florida Gulf Coast and Holy Cross.

"I'm just going to wait a little longer and hopefully try to get some other visits in and see what else is out there," Johnson said.