Montini junior Johnson commits to Connecticut

When Geno Auriemma asks you to join his program, it's hard to say no.

Montini junior Michala Johnson said yes Wednesday, committing to Auriemma and No. 1 Connecticut. The 6-foot-3 forward becomes the first Illinois player to commit to Auriemma in his tenure at UConn.

"I just liked the school, liked the campus and liked the coaches and the team," Johnson said. "I felt really comfortable there."

Johnson visited UConn on March 16 with her mother and sister. She considered committing on the spot but waited on it. Johnson, ranked No. 19 nationally by ESPN in the class of 2010, chose UConn over Duke, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Maryland and Penn State.

"I felt I could be myself there," Johnson said. "I liked the energy and how they got along with each other."

UConn is 35-0 this season and will play in the third round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. Auriemma, in his 24th season at the school, has won five national championships at UConn, the last coming in 2004.

"It's a great thing," Montini coach Jason Nichols said. "They liked her, she liked them and it's a perfect match. They have a bunch of great players and she is going to excel there."

Johnson was a member of the Daily Herald All-Area team as a sophomore, leading Montini to a third-place finish in Class 3A. She injured her knee last summer and in her first game back in November reinjured it. Johnson missed the rest of the season and underwent surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in January. Johnson will not play AAU basketball this summer but expects to be at full strength for her senior season at Montini.

"It's coming along pretty good," Johnson said. "I'm strengthening the knee right now - I might be able to run. I'm going to be in the gym this summer getting ready for the season."

UConn has two prior commitments from the 2010 class, Samarie Walker from Dayton and Stefanie Dotson from Slate Hill, N.Y.