BU recruit- class of 2010- Ricardo Johnson

[tornado]

Ricardo is a very talented Theron Wilson type scorer....he will likely get other offers, but right now his only reported offer is Bradley

[Eta Rho]

Ugh we need him!!!

What is the likelihood he goes bigger than Bradley? A ballpark percentage...

Ricardo has told me that he doesn't plan on committing until his senior season is finished, so it's tough to really know what the likelihood is of him going bigger. A lot could happen between now and March.

[Eta Rho]

Johnson Shines in Take Five

The last time we saw Ricardo Johnson he had just won a state championship with his Holmes team. The win marked the first state championship for Northern Kentucky since Simon Kenton won it in 1981. That tournament was a great showcase for Johnson as he garnered his first division-I offer from Bradley University. However, the AAU circuit is where a lot of players earn their spot at the next level.

Johnson was the best player on the court in both the semifinals and finals on Wednesday. He displayed not only his improved strength when finishing around the basket but also a solid step-back jumper from the 15-to-17 foot range that had the scouts impressed. The 6-foot-5 senior-to-be played a lot of his minutes at the point position, showing that not only could he play as a scorer off of the ball, but also lead his team from the point position as well. In the finals Johnson had 14 points at the half and finished with 20 in the win demonstrating his scoring ability in the first half and then his leadership and ability to get his teammates involved in the second.

"I want to improve my jumpshot, my ballhandling, really just every aspect of my game," he said. "I feel if I'm working on all parts of my game, I can't be stopped. I just want to make my position stronger."

"He's good… I mean really good," said a coach from a school in the MAC conference. "His versatility and the way he shot the ball today… I'm surprised he's not getting recruited by the big boys. He was the best player on the court today."

Johnson said that Bradley was still his only offer, but there had been other schools in contact as of late.

"I've been talking to Oklahoma State a little bit recently, also Miami of Ohio and Xavier a little bit."

One thing is for sure, if Johnson continues to play in these national tournaments at that high of a level, Bradley won't be his only offer for long.

http://queencityhigh.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=963754

[real fan]

Unless BU loses a player for whatever reason ,the one and only scholarship will be gone during the fall signing period. I don"t think this kid understands how big basketball is in Peoria and how special it is to play for a school like Bradley.

[tornado]

Eta Rho, thanks for that coverage....it is clear that all the fans here love Ricardo Johnson, and we're pulling for him to choose Bradley,
but we wish him well wherever he ends up.

He reminds a little of Courtney Lee, who almost chose Bradley then went to WKU, and many of the informed fans here continued to follw him just because he was exciting to watch.


btw - for those interested...not only does queencityhigh.com have nice coverage

http://queencityhigh.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=963754

they have a discussion going....

http://queencityhigh.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=2630&tid=124143349&mid=124143349&sid=1204&style=2

[Eta Rho]

Just received word that Ricardo and his Holmes team will be participating in the following events this coming season:

December 5th- Marshall Co Hoopfest
Holmes v Gary (Ind.) Bowman Academy @ Marshall Co High School (Bowman features the 3rd best soph to be in Indiana in 6'5 Dejuan Marrero)

(Oak Hill Academy ; Findlay Prep ; Christ School, NC ; Jackson, Miss. Callaway ; to name a few will also be there)

December 17-22nd- King of the Bluegrass
Teams- Holmes, L'ville Eastern, Clark County (6'9 Vinny Zollo), Warren Central (Top 100 prospect 2011, 6'6 George Fant), L'ville Ballard, L'ville Trinity (Miami, Oh commit, Josh Sewell), L'ville Iroquois, L'ville Fairdale, L'ville Seneca, Shelby County, Tates Creek, Knott County Central, Huntsville (AL) J. O. Johnson (Josh Langford- L'ville commit), Scottsdale (AZ) Chaparral (Zeke Chapman-son of Rex Chapman), Powder Springs (GA) McEachern (Trae Golden-top 25 prospect), and Memphis (TN) Central.

January 2nd- US Bank Classic
Holmes @ Mason Co (2008 KY state champs)

January 6th
Holmes v Princeton, OH (2009 OH State Runner Up...feature Ohio St commit and top 50 prospect, Jordan Sibert)

January 16th (?)- Joe B Hall Kentucky Preps Classic
Holmes v Christian Co

Other Events:
Kentucky- Tennessee Shootout @ Warren Central
Holmes will play a team from Memphis, TN (I believe Joe Johnson's team)

Lloyd Memorial Holiday Tournament

[Da Coach]

Ricardo Johnson picked up a 2nd offer- from Ohio University.

http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/blog.html

Kentucky Sweet 16 MVP Ricardo Johnson of Covington Holmes picked up his second firm schoalrship offer when he received one from Ohio University. Ohio U. joins Bradley as the two frontrunners for the services of Johnson (photo).

[Eta Rho]

The Holmes' 6-foot-5 wing that led them to a State Championship received his second offer Friday night.

Johnson called me around 10:30 to alert me that Ohio University had contacted him earlier in the night and offered him his second Division-I scholarship.

The first to offer was the Bradley Braves.

http://nkysportsblog.blogspot.com/20...ond-offer.html

[Eta Rho]

You can also go to the following link and read more notes about Ricardo from one of the scouts who was at the It Takes 5ive Classic in Cincinnati:

http://nkysportsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/holmes

Scroll down to the second story.

BTW, with Ohio offering, expect Akron to be the next offer that Johnson picks up....

[Eta Rho]

Also, this should make a few fans very happy...........

I just spoke with Ric and he said he plans on visiting Bradley towards the end of August.

[BUBrave28]

Great news! Hope we're going all out.. Let's make a good impression before anyone else can.

[Eta Rho]

Great news! Hope we're going all out.. Let's make a good impression before anyone else can.

At this point, Bradley and Ohio U. are the only two schools he said he plans on visiting and that he'd do both at the end of August.

Also said that he plans on re taking the ACT, which I believe is in September. (?)

[tornado]

Eta - remind RJ who's sent the most players to the NBA (22 to 9 and 12-4 since the 1960's - with Ohio having only ONE in the last 15 seasons), and who's been to the Sweet Sixteen the most recent..

also note that the discussion here on BradleyFans is 6 pages long...and on the Bobcat board it's not even a page long, with really only 2-3 posts even staying on the topic of Ricardo, and they say Ric is only 6-3!!

[Eta Rho]

Eta - remind RJ who's sent the most players to the NBA (22 to 9 and 12-4 since the 1960's - with Ohio having only ONE in the last 15 seasons), and who's been to the Sweet Sixteen the most recent..

also note that the discussion here on BradleyFans is 6 pages long...and on the Bobcat board it's not even a page long, with really only 2-3 posts even staying on the topic of Ricardo, and they say Ric is only 6-3!!

I'm sure he's well aware of Bradley's success. If he plans on visiting you guys, that's a great sign. From what I've seen at the AAU events I've attended this month, the Bradley coaching staff has made their presence well known. I'll leave it up to them to do the recruiting...I could lose my job if I started getting involved, regardless of how close to him I am...lol.

[tornado]

BU fans accept it is hard to recruit to a smaller market like Peoria, but we draw 10-11,000 fans and everyone who has visited has come away impressed....