One look at 6-foot-9 Ypsilanti Community High School forward Jaylen Johnson on the basketball court, and it's obvious why some of the best college basketball programs in the country are interested in him. But it was a mystery to Johnson why he was receiving interest from out-of-state schools, but not from Michigan's two biggest programs -- Michigan and Michigan State.

When they finally did, Johnson was excited at the possibility of playing for one of the teams he grew up watching. Johnson received a scholarship offer from Michigan State in took an unofficial visit to Michigan earlier this month.

“I’d been waiting for that offer - not particularly Michigan State, but an in-state offer because at first I was like, ‘I’m trying to work, and I’m not getting any looks in the state,” Johnson told Sam Webb of the Detroit News. “I was getting all the looks out of state, so when I got it I was excited. They’re finally seeing what I can do.”

While Michigan hasn't made Johnson a scholarship offer, Ypsilanti coach Steve Brooks told Webb that the Wolverines have been tracking his progress on the court and off. If Johnson can have a senior year for Ypsilanti Community that mirrors his junior year at Ypsilanti High, that interest will no doubt continue to grow.

Johnson averaged 13.8 points and better than eight rebounds per game last season at Ypsilanti, leading the Phoenix to the Class A state quarterfinals -- totaling 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots in a season-ending loss to Saginaw High School.

• Read the entire Detroit News article.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.