Former Southern Cal commit Johnson to visit UNLV this weekend

UNLV coach Lon Kruger indicated a couple weeks back after landing a commitment from Kansas transfer Quintrell Thomas that, unless something popped up, he didn't anticipate adding any other players to the 2009-10 fold.

Well, something popped up.

Noel Johnson, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Fayetteville, Ga., who Rivals.com ranks as the No. 53 overall prospect in the 2009 class, will visit UNLV this weekend. He confirmed as much when reached on Tuesday afternoon.

"I like the coaching staff and the tradition with the run-and-gun style," he said. "I definitely have (followed them) even though they weren't one of my top choices the first time I was being recruited."

Johnson was originally part of a spectacular recruiting class put together by Tim Floyd at Southern Cal, which included fellow top prospects Solomon Hill and Renardo Sidney. But with the impending fallout from Floyd's alleged cash payment of $1,000 to a handler of former guard O.J. Mayo, all three have since either de-committed or been granted releases from signed letters of intent.

"It was hard," Johnson said of breaking it off with the Trojans. "But you've got to do what's best for you."

Rivals also ranks him as the No. 11 small forward in the class, and he's currently the second-ranked unsigned prospect in the class, behind only Brooklyn point guard Lance Stephenson (No. 11 overall).

The connection to UNLV for Johnson is between his father -- Lynbert "Cheese" Johnson -- and Rebels assistant Lew Hill. The elder Johnson and Hill are longtime friends who both went to Wichita State. Johnson played for the Shockers from 1976-79, while Hill played from 1985-88.

Johnson also set up a visit with Charlotte, and said there are still other schools he's considering, too. Either way, Johnson said he hopes to have a decision made within the next three weeks.

At 6-foot-7, Johnson checks in at under 200 pounds -- a frame which will remind Rebels fans of current sophomore wing and UCLA transfer Chace Stanback.

He averaged 21 points and 8 rebounds and 3 assists last year for Fayette County High, which went 21-8, including a 14-game win streak before having its season ended by Miller Grove.

Johnson said he enjoys playing on the perimeter, as he's proven to be an effective 3-point shooter. He connected on 58 of 177 attempts a year ago (32.8 percent). He hit 82 3-point attempts as a junior while averaging 23.8 points and 8.4 boards.

"I like to play on the perimeter," he said. "I'm trying to play a lot of minutes right away, go somewhere where I can contribute."

The addition of Thomas left the Rebels with one open scholarship for the upcoming season. They also got a verbal pledge from Houston center Henry Buckley, who will attend prep school in North Carolina next season before coming to UNLV in time for the 2010-11 campaign, putting his name with the lone scholarship the Rebels had to give for that class.

If UNLV does not land a commitment from Johnson, their open scholarship for this season will roll over towards the 2010 class. If they do get Johnson, however, the only way to add players in the 2010 class would be with a current player leaving.