Torre Johnson

[MarkMiller]

Former Milwaukee Juneau standout Torre Johnson, who earned freshman of the year honors in the tough Jayhawk Conference last season at Garden City Community College, is being recruited by a number of high majors.

According to Juneau coach Jamie Koepp, interested schools in the athletic, 6-foot-5 forward include ...

De Paul, Creighton, UAB, SMU, Auburn, Washington, Georgia State, Illinois State, Illinois, Wyoming, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, and Oklahoma.

www.wbby.com

[dylanrocks]

Mark:

Thanks for the update. Is it your understanding that UWM is now out of the picture in the recruitment of Torre Johnson, who had committed here before failing to qualify? Where will the Panthers turn in their search for a quality combination forward? Is there any chance that Ryan Tillema will end up in Milwaukee? What is the latest on point guard Walter Blount Jr.?

[MarkMiller]

J.R. Blount has scholarship offers from UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, Loyola of Chicago and Southern Methodist. He also has an interest in Ohio, Tulsa, Colgate, Sacremento State and North Dakota State. I would expect a decision sometime soon.

Ryan Tillema is interested in UW-Green Bay, UW-Milwaukee, Valparaiso, Northern Iowa and West Virginia. He also has some interest in perhaps walking on at Wisconsin. Again, a decision should be forthcoming relatively soon.

Not sure if Torre has completely ruled out UWM, but judging from the list of schools his prep coach forwarded to me, I would say it is unlikely he'll choose UWM.

In the class of 2006, UWM figures to recruit several in-state players. Andy Polka of Oshkosh West has an offer from UWM, while Troy Cotton of Rufus King, Quincey Owens of Milw. Washington, Jacolby Hardiman of Milw. Tech and others figure to be closely monitored by the UWM staff.

Hope that helps.

[kaygee]

Any news on if Torre is closed to signing with anyone?

[admin]

No word on Torre.

We have a lot of scholarships to give. Any other new recruits? CollegeInsider has not updated their list lately, which has been the only recruitment service I have been using.

Thanks,
UWMfreak

[dylanrocks]

Mark Miller, if you're out combing around the Internet this evening, what is the latest on Torre Johnson?

[kaygee]

Torre is putting some monster numbers up for Garden City Community College thus far with 33 and 34 points respectively in back-to-back games.

[mcdadenets50]

Ronnie Jones is now an assistant under former Panther assistant Ryan Swanson at Garden City JC. Can't hurt our chances with Torre Johnson.

www.gcccks.edu/Athletics/mensbb/mbbroster.htm

[kaygee]

From the Coffeyville (KS) Journal:

Garden City Coach Ryan Swanson says Johnson - the No. 1 scorer in Region VI at the outset of the week with a 21.1 point average - is seeing things fall in place for him in part because he thinks team first and foremost. And he doesn't just talk it, he delivers. When asked if it would be okay to put up a countdown chart to his potential school scoring record, a mark held by Darrin Hanc*** (1990-92), the 1992 National JC Athletic Association Player of The Year, in the gym, Johnson - politely - refused. "He said it would take away from what the team is trying to accomplish," said Swanson. Johnson, 6-7 a native of Milwaukee, Wisc., is on pace to break up to four other Garden City offensive records. "Torre is having a great sophomore season," said Swanson. "The thing that makes Torre special is his unselfishness and team-first attitude. "He is so athletic that he can get his shot off anytime, yet he doesn't take bad shots. He is as hard-playing and as tough a kid as I have ever coached." Swanson says Johnson, however, must improve his ball handling skills and his strength to be a big hit at his next stop and just where that will be next season is up in the air until season's end. According to Swanson, as of Tuesday, schools who look to have the best shot at getting Johnson, in no particular order, are Auburn, Cincinnati, Creighton, DePaul, Oklahoma State, Purdue, Illinois and Texas A&M.