When I first wrote about the potential dates that some of the UConn recruiting targets could make unofficial visits, I mentioned the possibility that Laguna Hills wing Lauren Engeln and Montini Catholic forward Michala Johnson could be on campus at the same time because of the break between the end of the regular season and beginning of their respective state tournaments.

Well, that is not going to be the case. As my previous entry stated, Engeln is planning a visit to Storrs this weekend. I spoke to Montini Catholic coach Jason Nichols earlier today and he said Johnson is planning a visit to UConn on Mar. 16-17.

Johnson, who is out for the search with knee injury, had surgery to repair her torn anterior cruciate ligament on Jan. 31 and Nichols said she is progressing nicely although don't expect to see her on the court until she begins preparations for her senior season. Nichols said Johnson is hoping to make visits to Maryland, Penn State, Georgia and Vanderbilt somewhere from March to May although there is a chance the process of making campus visits could extend into June. Illinois, Purdue and DePaul are still on Johnson's list according to Nichols although they are all close enough to drive in for a campus visit.

Johnson was in attendance at Saturday's UConn/Marquette game and by all accounts, enjoyed herself.

"I asked her what she thought and she said 'they are really good,'" Nichols said. "I asked her if she thought she could play for them and she said 'I think I could beat all of them down the floor.'"

Nichols didn't disagree with his athletic star who is considered to be one of the most athletic posts available in the high school Class of 2010.

I was asked why Engeln wasn't rated in the Hoopgurlz.com list of top 60 players in the Class of '10. I have no say in the process so can not offer a reasoning for it but if the scuttlebutt surrounding the big-time programs intrigued by Engeln proves to be true, something tells me she will be soaring up the list. I believe Arkansas freshman Ciera Ricketts wasn't ranked among the top 100 players by Hoopgurlz last years. Ricketts is leading the Southeastern Conference in steals, is ninth in scoring, 14th in rebounds and sixth in assists so I wonder if those entrusted in ranking the best high school players wouldn't mind a second chance to rank Ricketts a tad bit higher? Personally, if I were a UConn fan I would be more interested in where Engeln ranks in the Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey database than I would be on hoopgurlz, blue star or whatever other service attempts to pass themselves off as experts. I wonder where Angel McCoughtry or Shavonte Zellous were ranked coming out of high school? I would guess there were not that highly touted but since both are expected to be first round picks in April's WNBA draft, I don't think their lack of notoriety coming into college held them back too much. I do know that the UConn coaching staff is extremely high on Engeln. If that was not the case, she would not be flying in with her dad to check out the UConn campus or attend Sunday's Pittsburgh game.

Remaining on the recruiting subject, the WBCA named the 20 players who will play in the annual high school All-American game at the Final Four. Kelly Faris, the only high school senior to sign with the Huskies, was not selected although seven players who were on UConn's recruiting radar at one point in the process (Kelsey Bone, Skylar Diggins, Krista Gross, Jasmine Hassell, Tayler Hill, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt and Taber Spani) have been selected. The WBCA game will be played on April 4 in St. Louis.

The 24 players who made the cut for the McDonald's All-American game will be revealed on Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU. Faris is in the running to be invited to play in that game, set for April 1 in Miami.

Speaking of Faris, she will lead her Heritage Christian of Indianapolis squad against host Triton Central tonight in the first game of Heritage Christian's quest for a fourth straight Indiana 2A title.

Samarie Walker, one of two juniors who have orally committed to UConn, and her Chaminade Julienne of Dayton, Ohio squad will play its first postseason game on Wednesday at 6 p.m. against West Carrollton at Trotwood-Madison High School.

One last item, for those fans hyperventilating over Tina Charles' offensive struggles in games against Marquette and Rutgers, it should be noted that back in the 2001-02 season when UConn finished 39-0 and had what some think was the best season in women's college basketball history, Asjha Jones failed to score in double figures in three of the first four games, Swin Cash was 12 for 34 from the field in games against Notre Dame, Boston College and Virginia Tech in a span of nine days in January of 2002 and Bird was 9 for 23 in a three-game stretch late in that season. Bird and Cash have Olympic gold medals and WNBA titles on their post-UConn resumes and Jones is one of the top players in the WNBA. Just thought I might try to offer a little bit of perspective in those wishing to overreact about Charles' recent off-kilter efforts.