Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
North Carolina transfer Puff Johnson commits to Penn State
By SAM LANCE
North Carolina transfer Puff Johnson will return close to home, as he announced his commitment to Mike Rhoades and Penn State on Wednesday.
Johnson, the 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward from Moon Township (PA), averaged 4.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game for North Carolina last season. He played in 27 total games and averaged 15.9 minutes per game.
The Pennsylvania native is most known for his key role in helping the Tar Heels reach the 2021-22 title game. Johnson averaged 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 11.6 minutes throughout the tournament. He also scored nine points in the second half of the national championship game against Kansas.
Now, Johnson will be a Nittany Lion for his senior season.
“I really liked the coaching staff since they recruited my brother [Cameron Johnson] at Rice,” Johnson said to On3. “It is not only close to home, but the people there make it feel like home for me.”
Johnson is a former four-star recruit per 247Sports and is ranked the No. 158 overall transfer by Evan Miya.
Rhoades has been busy since becoming the head coach of Penn State on March 29. He’s added three other players from the portal besides Johnson, including former Temple forward Zach Hicks, and two of his former players at VCU in point guard Adrian Baldwin and forward Nick Kern.
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