2010 guard in town for UCLA game

Written BY: Josh Gershon
GOAZCATS.com

Despite Arizona 's next head coach being up in the air, the program's recruiting isn't completely dead.

On Thursday, UA assistant coach Reggie Geary offered a scholarship and accepted a commitment from Los Angeles Southwest Community College forward Tremayne Johnson .

On Saturday, Geary had a 2010 prospect he offered earlier in the season in town to see Arizona defeat UCLA , 84-72.

Avery Johnson , a 6-foot-3, 180-pound shooting guard from Huntington Beach (Calif.) Ocean View, came in with his father to see the game. He was impressed with what he saw.

"I was really looking forward to the game; it was a big game," Johnson said. "I thought it was amazing; I loved everything about it. The defensive pressure stood out. They had UCLA on their heels and out of their offense all game. It was the style of defense I like to play."

Johnson's lone offer is Arizona but he's also actively hearing from schools such was Washington , Pepperdine, UCSB and Portland. A high school and AAU teammate of five-star small forward Anthony Brown , he'll certainly be evaluated by many of the nation's top programs.

Considering Johnson's interest in the UA program, the next Arizona coach will certainly be watching him play.

Johnson got some insight into the UA coaching search while in town on Saturday.

"I had at least a 45-minute conversation with (UA athletic director) Mr. (Jim) Livengood , my dad and coach Geary," Johnson said. "Mr. Livengood was telling me about the things he looks for in players and coaches and how he makes decisions.

"He had the answer to every question I had before I asked. He couldn't say much about the coaching search in terms of who he's going to hire, but he said it's going to be someone who is loyal and is the same way on TV as he is in practice.

"He also talked about the college in general. He was talking about what I wanted to major in, what happens to athletes after they graduate and how you're going there to do much more than play basketball."

The conversation between Johnson and Livengood made the guard feel better about the direction that the UA program is going.

"After talking to Mr. Livengood, I feel really confident that they're going to make a good hire," Johnson said. "He was very reassuring. It's going to be important to me but the conversations I've had with them make me feel comfortable about it."

Johnson is hoping that whoever the next UA head coach is, he keeps Geary on staff.

"I talk to coach Geary often," he said. "He's really interested in me and is a really good guy. I hope he stays."

Johnson says that there is still a bit of time left before he's ready to make a decision.

"Arizona is my number one," Johnson said.

"Probably after the summer I'll commit somewhere."