Will he stay or will he go?
That's the question that has been hanging over the Utah basketball program ever since the NCAA Tournament ended last week.The decision finally came Thursday, and the answer is . . . he's going.
Britton Johnsen, that is.
The 6-foot-9 forward who made such an impressive impact during the Utes' remarkable NCAA run told the Deseret News Thursday that he will postpone his basketball career at Utah for two years to go on an LDS mission this summer.
"This is something I've wanted to do my whole life," he said. "It's a decision I made on my own. The last few months I've done a lot of thinking and praying."
For most of the season, Johnsen has been leaning in the direction of following the footsteps of his older brother, Jeff, who is on a mission. However, his late-season success when he became the Utes' top reserve during the NCAA tournament made the decision difficult.
"There's a part of me that really wants to stay," he said. "We have great fan support, and this is such a great program. I love playing for coach Majerus, and he's really taught me a lot this year."
Johnsen wanted to get a solid year under his belt before his mission and considered playing one more year before leaving. A preseason injury limited his play early on, but his late-season surge when he averaged 6.2 points and 2.2 rebounds during the NCAA Tournament left him on a positive note.
"I'm happy the way the season ended," said Johnsen. "It was a dream come true for me as a freshman to play for the national championship."
Majerus would have preferred to use Johnsen's talents next year, but Johnsen said his coach's reaction to his decision was positive.
"When I told the coach, he said he was real happy for me," said Johnsen. "He made it real easy and said he would support me."
Majerus, who didn't go to Phoenix as originally planned with Michael Doleac Wednesday night for the NBA rookie camp, had met with Johnsen for two hours on Tuesday. He received the news from Johnsen at his hotel room Thursday afternoon.
"I respect his decision and wish him nothing but personal fulfillment on this important endeavor," said Majerus. "It is with regret and sadness from a basketball standpoint that Britton departs, but I am pleased because he seems to be so at peace and happy about the decision. I support him wholeheartedly."
Johnsen turns 19 in early July, and he is expected to leave sometime in midsummer. His brother Jeff, who played for Utah last year, is serving a mission in Fresno, Calif., and helped influence his little brother's decision.
"He feels what he has done is right," said Britton. "It's been the best decision for him."
Some people, including Majerus, have said that Johnsen's prospects of playing in the NBA will be hurt by his going on a mission. Johnsen is aware that no returned missionaries aside from Shawn Bradley have succeeded in the NBA, but that doesn't bother him.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's just a challenge for me, and I'll be determined to conquer it," he said.
Besides Johnsen, two other Ute freshmen, Trace Caton and Jon Carlisle, are expected to go on LDS missions this summer. However, Majerus said he hasn't had a chance to sit down and talk to them and wouldn't be able to until next week.
During Majerus' nine-year tenure at Utah, he's seen several players leave on missions, but several have returned to become important players for the Utes. Among the returned missionaries who have played key roles for Majerus' teams are Josh Grant, Larry Cain, Craig Rydalch, Mark Rydalch, McKay M'Grath, Doug Chapman, Ryan Hunt, Ben Caton and Alex Jensen.
"We have made every accommodation and provided encouragement to all of our Mormon players relative to the mission experience because it is of such great importance to their religious and spiritual well-being," said Majerus. "I am proud to be a coach of so many young men that felt so good about a religious experience that they would want to sacrifice their basketball and delay it. It is a privilege and an honor for me to coach so many young Mormon men."