By Alex Kline

For Durand Johnson, basketball has been life to him growing up in the tough city of Baltimore, Maryland. Johnson, a top 125 player in America, has seen his recruitment pick up over the last few months. While he starred at Lake Clifton High School in Baltimore, Johnson recently decided to change scenes and head to prep school for his senior season. This is not the only big decision he would have to make regarding school.

Durand is Big East bound and will play close to home. “I just committed to Pittsburgh,” Johnson stated. “It was a great fit for me and the coaching staff is great.” Johnson, who is an aggressive scorer as a wing, joins a Pitt class that is already stacked for 2011. He will be accompanied by Jaylen Bond and John Johnson, both of Pennsylvania.

“I had been favoring them for a while but I informed the coaching staff recently,” he said. “I’m looking forward to being a Pitt Panther.” While Johnson embarks on a new lifestyle at Brewster, he will be watching plenty of college hoops on television this year as he anticipates his arrival into Pittsburgh basketball.

(Photo courtesy of Durand)