Johnson touches on state of LSU basketball program

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 10, 2008 - Page: 7C - UPDATED: 12:10 a.m.

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Trent Johnson finally stopped briefly to catch his breath this week, speaking to a handful of Louisiana writers between Tiger Tour stops in Alexandria and Lafayette where he admits he has been overwhelmed by the passion of LSU fans.

The Tigers’ new men’s basketball coach covered a wide range of themes, including the most pressing current topic — the status of high-profile recruit J’Mison Morgan.

Johnson seemed relaxed and at ease as he touched on what he expects of his new players, how the Tigers coaching staff is taking shape and what lies ahead in the next phase of LSU basketball.

“It’s been like a whirlwind,” Johnson said. “There are a lot of things on your plate you need to get done.”

In his first public appearance Wednesday in Alexandria since being introduced as the replacement for John Brady on April 10, Johnson shared the stage with two stars of the LSU athletic department and he proved he knows the right things to say.

“People start standing up and I’m sandwiched between Skip Bertman, who has five national championships, and Les Miles, who has one but probably should have had two with the exception of the bad officiating at the Auburn game two years ago,” Johnson said with a smile.

Greeted by an enthusiastic and passionate crowd, Johnson also fielded questions about the drama brewing with Morgan.

Ranked as the 25th best player in the Class of 2008 by Rivalshoops.com and 29th by Scouthoops.com, Morgan is regarded as the centerpiece of an LSU recruiting class ranked in the top 20 nationally by both Web sites.

Morgan signed a national letter of intent in November, but wavered when Brady was fired in February. As recently as April 23, however, the 6-foot-10, 275-pound center said he was excited about a future at LSU.

This week, stories surfaced on Rivals and in newspapers in Dallas and Los Angeles that Morgan had changed his mind.

His mother, Bianca Morgan, said in an interview with The Advocate on Tuesday that she had submitted paperwork for her son seeking a release from the letter of intent, which is binding according to NCAA rules. Bianca Morgan said she wasn’t comfortable with Johnson because had not called her son since April 22, a notion Johnson refuted.

Johnson and Bianca Morgan spoke Wednesday and the coach said he asked her what had changed since the last time they spoke when J’Mison Morgan reaffirmed his commitment.

“Any time there’s a coaching change, I think whether a kid is attached to a head coach or an assistant coach, there are going to be some reservations,” Johnson said.