Prospect Watch - April 20

A look at one of the top players in the 2008 class, Glory Johnson, who gives us her top five schools. Plus the usual look around the country.

STORY & PHOTOS BY GLENN NELSON

RALEIGH, N.C. - Further proof that the top of the 2008 class is the sickest, scariest-good group in years is Glory Johnson's No. 8 ranking by HoopGurlz.com. In most years, a 6-foot-3 forward who can run the floor and handle the ball like a guard, explode off the floor like a rocket and play with a motor, as some college coaches at the Deep South Classic suggested, "like Maya Moore," would easily be the No. 1 player in the land.

Johnson, a junior at The Webb School in Knoxville, Tenn., may be worthy of a top-five ranking and has the rest of the spring and summer to obtain it. In fact, she's probably a reliable jump shot away. Most of the top schools in the country are recruiting her as a wing. "I think I'll play the three (small forward) in college," Johnson said. "I play the post now, but I'm too small for that at the college level.

"My shot is all right. I don't take the three-pointer as much as I do during the high-school season. I shot it a lot last summer."

Glory Johnson

Asked if she doesn't take the three as much because she doesn't have to, Johnson replied, "I think that's true. We have a whole bunch of three-point shooters on this team."

OK, we meant that Johnson didn't necessarily need the three to put up big numbers on the club circuit, but what she said also is true. At this point, Johnson can outrun or outwork most defenders; she is fast and explosive enough to have claimed Tennessee Division II state championships in the long jump and 200-meter dash. She did have an intriguing matchup with Tennessee commit Amber Gray during Deep South that showed she was more explosive but not as physical as Gray. So her self projection as a "three" probably is spot on.

Johnson was considered by many to be the best overall prospect at the Deep South Classic last weekend.

Many consider Tennessee to have the inside track with Johnson, but her game compares very closely with that of Vicki Baugh, the Sacramento, Calif., forward who begins her career with the Vols next season. Johnson told HoopGurlz.com that Duke, Georgia, North Carolina and Vanderbilt join Tennesse on her school list. She has made two unofficial visits to Duke, as well as single visits at Georgia, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. She made an unofficial to North Carolina last Sunday.

Though the two visits to Durham, N.C., may indicate a strong interest in the Blue Devils, the fact that Gail Goestenkors left for Texas "lowers Duke a lot," according to Johnson.

Johnson said she likely will take a couple of official visits before she makes a commitment. She said she'd be interested in visiting a school such as UCLA to see if she'd like a longer-distance connection.

One last clue as to a possible college destination:

"I don't do cold," Johnson said.

Rim Shots

Though we've been focused on the older kids of late, one 2010 that definitely has our attention is Michala Johnson, of Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, Ill. Johnson was named MVP of the 16U Select Division at the Deep South Classic after leading the Illinois Lady Lightning to a championship. She also had what Montini coach Jason Nichols calls a "remarkable" freshman season, during which she averaged 20.6 points, shooting 68 percent from the field, and 12.2 rebounds. Montini reached the Illinois supersectionals, where it lost to Bolingbrook, which

Michala Johnson

was ranked No. 8 nationally by Full Court Press. "Michala clearly was the top freshmen last year in the state of Illinois," Nichols said, "and easily was one of the top players regardless of age." ... Zoe Rogers, a 2009 out of Bellaire, Texas, was another younger player who had a bit of a breakout weekend. Playing for the Texas Blazers at the Boo Williams Invitational, Rogers, a 6-1 lefty, had 14 points against Fairfax Elite and 10 points, four rebounds and four blocks against the LA/GA Liners. "My phone has not stop ringing about her since," reports Blazers coach Herbert Dee Lee III. ... Is there a Trojan Jinx? USC signee Stefanie Gilbreath suffered an ACL tear in her left knee during the McDonald's All-American Game events. The injury initially was reported as minor, but the tear was discovered by doctors early last week. This is two straight year that USC’s top recruit will reach campus recovering from a major injury. Last year it was Jacki Gemelos, the No. 2 overall prospect in 2006 who suffered the same injury during the California state playoffs and was not able to play in her freshman year for the Trojans. Gemelos is said to be fully recovered and nearing top shape. Gilbreath, meanwhile, was in attendance at the Boo Williams Invitational, watching her sister, Briana playing for her former club team, West Coast Elite. ... Speaking of WCE, when we recently mentioned the school list for exciting post Monique Oliver, USC was not on it. Not only should USC be on the list, the Trojans happen to head the list.

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