Cheyenne guard Elijah Johnson commits to Kansas (UPDATED)

By Ryan Greene

Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 | 9:06 p.m.

Cheyenne High senior Elijah Johnson - rated as the No. 27 prospect in the 2009 class by Rivals.com - committed to Kansas on Saturday night during his official visit.

"I'm pretty excited," the 6-foot-2 point guard told the Lawrence Journal-World Saturday night. "It was the best choice out there for me. In my opinion, it's the best place to be."

Johnson and his father, Marcus, were in Lawrence this weekend and on Friday night took in the program's Late Night in the Phog celebration, where they saw the 2008 NCAA National Championship banner get raised. Marcus told the Journal-World that his son was leaning towards the Jayhawks before the visit even took place.

Johnson elaborated a bit on his visit over the phone with The Sun upon his return to Las Vegas Sunday evening.

He confirmed that the banner-raising was quite the experience and had more than just a little impact on him.

"It was pretty influential, and it made me realize I was lucky to be one of the guys they were recruiting," said Johnson, who was one of four blue-chippers in the class of '09 on hand for an official visit.

By his side during the Late Night festivities were Xavier Henry (No. 3), Michael Snaer (No. 11) and Dominic Cheek (No. 16).

KU coach Bill Self had been out to Las Vegas recently for an in-home visit, and was also here in July to watch Johnson participate in the adidas Super 64, where he played with the Las Vegas Prospects.

Johnson, though, is now verbally tied to the program's last available scholarship for next season. That could of course change depending on whether players leave the program following the season. He is the Jayhawks' second and potentially last commit for 2009, joining five-star big man Thomas Robinson (No. 18).

"He's liked Kansas since the third grade," Marcus Johnson told the Journal-World. "The family came out here with him and we can see why he likes it so much."

Elijah said it may not have been exactly as far back as the third grade when he first began following the KU program, but it was around that time when he started watching alongside his older cousin.

"I liked their style of play, the system, everything that had to do with them," he recalled.

He also said it was never exactly the plan to end his recruitment before his senior season at Cheyenne got under way, but it certainly has some advantages.

"I think it's going to be more relaxing," he said. "I had a goal set (in terms of getting a Division-I scholarship) and I've got it accomplished now."