Mr. Basketball makes early commitment

While the late basketball signing period is still going on for the class of 2006, hoops recruiting never ends, and the Clarion Ledger's Mr. Basketball for 2006 – who is just a junior – has already made his future intentions known. While he can't officially sign until November, Coahoma County's Ravern Johnson cast his lot with Mississippi State on Sunday night. What made him commit, and what made him commit so early?

"I did it," he said. "I committed to Mississippi State. I had talked to coach Kirby about 30 minutes ago (on Sunday night) and I told him.

"That is just the type of game I love playing, running down the floor, shooting, the same defense. It's just their game. I won't have to change my system when I go there."

Johnson was named Mr. Basketball after his junior season, after averaging 23 points and 8.7 rebounds per game and after leading his team to consecutive state championships. He will play bout the two and three positions (shooting guard and small forward) for the Bulldogs. He comes in as the state's top high school prospect, according to Mississippi's leading hoops authority, Lavel Johnson of MagnoliaPreps.com and is also a member of the Rivals.com Top 100.

Why did he commit early?

"I saw that a bunch of eleventh graders were going ahead and committing to the schools they wanted to go to, and I had been thinking about it for a long time, so I said I might as well just go ahead and commit to Mississippi State," he said, and added that he plans to sign during the early period in November. Is there any chance he has a change of plans before then?

"I'm a hundred percent," he said.

"Although he has a hitch in his release, Johnson is a terrific shooter and scorer," commented Rivals.com basketball recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer. "He has the size and body control to score in a number of ways.

"An effective zone defender with his length and instincts, he does need to improve as a man-to-man defender. Gaining strength and tightening up his handle will be important for the next level."