We haven't heard much from Geno Auriemma and the Huskies since they were bounced from the Final Four by Notre Dame for the second consecutive year. But sometimes no news is good news (2012 national champs Baylor might prefer that, for example).
Well, there's finally some news out of UConn, though it's not of the magnitude of what Baylor is currently facing. Instead, sophomore forward Michala Johnson is transferring. Auriemma confirmed as much although he was uncertain of where she would play next year. ESPN has since reported that Wisconsin will be the likely landing spot.
Johnson, a 6-3 frontcourt player from Chicago, arrived in Storrs like most of Auriemma's recruits: long on talent. But she was at a major disadvantage after suffering serious knee injuries during her junior and senior seasons in high school. And with the Huskies having one of the best recruiting classes in the country (including center Breanna Stewart and forward Morgan Tuck), Johnson's best chance at playing time will come elsewhere.
"I'm sure Michala looked at the situation and realized it wasn't going to be very easy for her to get playing time," Auriemma said according to the Hartford Courant's John Altavilla. . … "I am sure she talked to her high school coach and her mother and she came to her decision, which she informed me of [Tuesday]. Being away from home wasn't very easy for her at times and I know she missed her mom very much."
Altavilla notes that Johnson becomes the second player in the class of 2011 to leave. Samarie Walker transferred to Kentucky in January 2011. In two seasons, Johnson appeared in 56 games and averaged just 5.1 minutes of playing time. She averaged fewer than two points a game over that span but had a career-high eight points against Pitt last February.
