By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

With one scholarship to fill for next season, University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins is focusing his spring recruiting efforts on 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward/center Alexander Johnson from Bridgeton (Maine) Academy.

Johnson, originally from Albany, Ga., signed with Georgia out of Dougherty High School but enrolled at the prep school after failing to qualify academically to play as a freshman.

UC and Indiana are the frontrunners for him, according to recruiting analyst Clark Francis.

Johnson has scheduled a visit to UC for the weekend of April 19.

"He's athletic and he's got some skills," Francis said. "But he needs to play harder. He needs Huggins to push him. He's probably the best available high school big man."

Johnson already has visited Indiana and also has visits to Connecticut and Florida State scheduled.

The Bearcats, who were thin along the front line this past season, signed junior-college center Robert Whaley last fall. The addition of Johnson, along with Florida transfer James White, who will be eligible in December, would give them depth at the forward and center positions.

Starting forward Jason Maxiell, part-time starting center Kareem Johnson and reserve center Rod Flowers all return next season.

Johnson made an official visit to Cincinnati in November 2001 before he chose Georgia.

"They're no stranger to him," Francis said. "They know what they're getting. He probably needs Huggins more than Huggins needs him. If he wants to play in the NBA, he needs to go someplace where he's going to be pushed. He could put Cincinnati right back where they want to be."

---

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com