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Recruiting Wrap

Jeff Johnson makes the call

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Thursday, September 10, 2009 9:14 AM

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Centennial senior Jeff Johnson took his first official visit last weekend. It will likely be his last.

Johnson, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound power forward, called Eastern Kentucky head coach Jeff Neubauer on Wednesday to give the Colonels his verbal commitment a week after visiting the Richmond, Ky., campus.

"(The Eastern Kentucky coaches) were kind of anticipating me to commit right after the visit," Johnson said. "I just took some time to think about it. I had some good talks with (Centennial head coach Tim Lavin and Chargers assistant Sonny Walker). I decided that I didn't need to visit anywhere else, and that they were the school for me."

Johnson, a face-up post player with range beyond the 3-point arc, fits well in the Colonels perimeter-focused offense (EKU tied for fifth in the nation with 320 3-point field goals made last season). Eastern Kentucky, the first team to offer Johnson, play in the Ohio Valley Conference and made the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2007.

Johnson was little-known in recruiting circles a year ago. But after averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds to help lead Centennial to Class 3A title last winter and impressive performances with the Peoria Irish AAU team, Johnson received 10 scholarship offers from Division I programs this summer.

He chose Eastern Kentucky over American University, University of Illinois-Chicago, Murray State, Florida Gulf Coast, IUPUI, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Penn.

Johnson said the recruiting process was "overwhelming" and that it put "a lot of pressure" on him but that he cherishes the opportunity to play Division I basketball.

"Two or three years ago, I never thought I'd be visiting so many schools," Johnson said. "I just thought maybe I'd get lucky and one or two schools might have some interest in me. But I never thought I'd get ten scholarship offers."

With his college decision out of the way, Johnson said he feels relieved that he can concentrate on his senior season with the Chargers.

"It feels great," Johnson said. "It's a big load off my shoulders. Now I can just focus on Centennial this season and get us back to another state title."