BLOOMINGTON - Sean Johnson, the No. 2 scorer on a Washington High School basketball team that spent much of the season state ranked in Class AA, has committed to play college basketball at Illinois Wesleyan.

A 6-foot-1 guard, Johnson averaged 18.3 points for a Panthers' team that also featured junior Division I prospect Matt Roth.

"Wesleyan is one of the best educational schools around, and that's really important to me," Johnson said. "Coach (Ron) Rose told me I would have a chance to play right away, and that really tempted me. I really liked the way coach Rose said I fit into their system."

Johnson is the first player in Rose's initial recruiting class. The Titans were 11-14 this past season and lose their No. 1 (Zach Freeman) and No. 3 (Andrew Freeman) scorer to graduation.

"We're excited to have Sean join the program. He comes from a great program so we know coming in he's well coached," Rose said. "This past season he proved he can do a lot of different things on the floor to help a team win."

A third team Illinois Basketball Coaches Association all-state selection and part of the Peoria Journal Star's Class AA all-area team, Johnson hit 75 3-pointers during his senior season and was a 45 percent shooter from 3-point range. He also averaged 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals.

"My junior year I was really just a strict spot shooter," Johnson said. "I worked hard in the offseason to gain foot speed and quickness, and I was able to get to the basket a lot more."

Playing his college basketball less than an hour from home was important to Johnson.

"My grandparents (Gerry and Roxan Johnson) have come to every one of my high school games home and away, and my parents (Kirk and Ruth) have been nothing but supportive in every thing I've done," he said. "My dad has coached me since I was a little kid. I can't imagine playing in a gym that they weren't there.

"My older brother (Andy) is a sophomore at U of I (Illinois), and he would like to see me play more, and my younger brother (Grant) is in seventh grade. So playing close to home is perfect for me."

Johnson, who scored 35 points (20 in the fourth quarter) in Washington's sectional loss to Peoria Richwoods, saw three IWU games last season at Shirk Center. He said the atmosphere was similar to the one he enjoyed at Washington.

"Going to Wesleyan, I'm going to play in front of the same type of crowds," he said. "It's a great environment. I knew this was the place I wanted to end up."

Rose considers Johnson a shooting guard at the college level.

"Probably the talent that stands out the most when you first watch Sean is his ability to shoot the basketball," said the IWU coach. "He's a two guard who handles the ball well enough he could play the point."

Rose is optimistic Johnson will be followed by several more recruits.

"Recruiting is going well," he said. "We've got some great relationships with some talented players. We're excited Sean is the first to commit. Hopefully, in the next couple weeks we'll add some very talented players to that list."

Washington coach Kevin Brown, whose team was 27-2 last season, believes Johnson has the talent and desire to succeed at Wesleyan.

"Sean was a great shooter as a junior. He turned himself into a complete player as a senior," said the former Central Catholic coach.

"He has an incredible work ethic. He will work until he's a top player in the program.

"He's a complete player offensively. He's very effective getting to the basket. As he gets stronger, he will continue to get better defensively. I definitely feel Sean can play at that level."