Marques Johnson was recruited by Tennessee to play point guard, but with the recruitment and qualification of Ramar Smith in the second signing period, that might not happen.

But Johnson has a history of adjusting to different roles.

After all, in grade school he played the part of a giraffe in a Noah's Ark skit.

"He looked so long, and so tall, he thought it was ridiculous,'' said Dawn Johnson, Marques' mother. "But if a teacher wanted him to do it, he'd go along with the program.

"That's the way he is. Whatever he's got to do, he does it. If it takes 15 assists, he'll give them that, or 15 points. He does whatever it takes to be successful.''

The Tennessee freshman said that's the attitude it takes for a basketball team to be successful.

"That is a big thing,'' Johnson said. "We're basketball players, we have a competitive attitude, and we want to win and that takes a team attitude.''

Johnson has proved he can walk the walk as well as he talks it.

At the Derby Classic High School All-Star Game in Louisville last spring, Johnson didn't put up one shot - there were plenty of other hot-dogging teammates more than willing to do that.

Even at Snyder High School in Fort Wayne, Ind., where Johnson was the most highly recruited player on the team, Johnson was forced to play a lesser role than he was capable. The coach's son was the point guard, and at 6-foot-6, Johnson was the tallest player on the team, relegating him to duties closer to the bucket.

"I just tried to do what we needed for us to win,'' Johnson said, shrugging his shoulders.

Johnson's versatility was obvious from early on, even in his off-the-court endeavors.

"Marques could really play the violin,'' Dawn Johnson said. "At his grade school, they like them to try an instrument. At the recital, he was amazing, but we couldn't get him to think long term and pursue it.''

Instead, Johnson pursued basketball, growing right into the sport as the tallest kid in his class.

Johnson's height is still his greatest ally, be it at point guard, shooting guard or small forward. It enables him to see the floor and find open teammates easier. Also, Johnson can post up smaller defenders matched on him.

If there's a weakness to that size (6-foot-5, 200 pounds) it's that Johnson must adjust to playing against quicker, faster competition.

"The biggest difference for me here was the tempo of the game, just the jump from high school to college,'' Johnson said. "After the first couple weeks of open gym here, I picked up on that.''

As for his offensive productivity, or lack thereof, Johnson said that is to be determined by his coaches and the defense.

"I play the game; I've been taught to take what the defense gives you,'' said Johnson, who has displayed a steady 3-point shot when left open. "If I have to go to the rack, I'll go to the rack. If the trey is open, I take the trey.

"I'm the type of guy that likes the extra pass.''

In addition to Tennessee, Johnson was recruited heavily by Indiana, Georgetown, Oklahoma and North Carolina State.

Ask Pearl to compare Johnson to Ramar Smith, and he replies "two different types of players.''

Johnson, who has played in all-star camps against Smith, agrees, and he sees that as an added bonus for the team.

"I think our games complement each other,'' Johnson said. "The things he does well, I don't do as well; the things I do well, he doesn't do well.

"I think we'll be a great combination in the future.''

If it seems Johnson is mature beyond his years, it might be because his skills and height enabled him to play up in higher age groups in AAU competition.

It also might be because he has found a positive example of selflessness on the Tennessee basketball team.

"I always say Dane (Bradshaw) is my role model,'' Johnson said. "He's always working hard and motivating people.''

And, like Johnson, Bradshaw has been willing to play a role (at power forward last year) that made him look ridiculous at times.

Johnson laughs about the giraffe costume when he looks back on it now.

"No, I really didn't want to do it,'' he said. "But it just kind of happened, and it felt right, so I went with it.''