Puff Johnson - College Basketball News & Rumors

Highly regarded North Carolina transfer Puff Johnson makes Penn State debut in win over St. Francis (Pa.) Penn State guard/forward Puff Johnson took the court for the first time as a Nittany Lion and scored six points in the 83-53 win over St. Fr...

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM

Excluded from injury report Johnson (undisclosed) is excluded from Penn State's injury report released Tuesday, according to Daniel Gallen of 247Sports.com.

Impact Johnson being excluded from the report indicates he is available for Penn State's game Tuesday against St. Francis (PA). The transfer student can log his Lions debut then. Johnson may not though, considering he was available but sat out their game Friday against Lehigh.

NOVEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reportedly available Johnson (undisclosed) is reportedly available for the Nittany Lions' game Monday against Delaware State, according to Daniel Gallen of 247Sports.com.

Impact Johnson was excluded from the Nittany Lions' injury report, indicating he may be available Monday. The college senior averaged less than four points and two rebounds while enrolled at North Carolina during his underclassman seasons. Ideally for Johnson, he receives better opportunities now.

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits out scrimmage Johnson didn't play in Friday's scrimmage and wasn't present during Monday's practice, Daniel Gallen of 247Sports reports.

Impact Johnson was a regular contributor for the Tar Heels off the bench last season and figures to see regular minutes with the Nittany Lions as well when healthy, but it appears he's dealing with some sort of issue leading up to the season. He has a little over a week to get healthy before the games begin to count.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Puff Johnson commits to Penn State The Pennsylvania native is going back to his home state after three seasons at UNC.

APRIL 27, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

UNC's Puff Johnson to enter transfer portal The junior wing will exit Chapel Hill with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

MARCH 22, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

North Carolina's Puff Johnson to transfer Puff Johnson plans to pass on another season at North Carolina, becoming the fourth member of the 2022-23 team to hit the transfer portal si...

MARCH 22, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Plans on leaving North Carolina Johnson is slated to enter the transfer portal and leave North Carolina, Joe Tipton of On3.com reports.

Impact Johnson is in line to relocate from North Carolina and play elsewhere next season after having spent the last three years with the program. Across 65 game appearances in that span, including the Tar Heels' 2021-22 National Championship run, the 6-foot-8 forward made just two starts. As a junior, Johnson averaged career highs with 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per contest, and he'll likely seek out an opportunity where he can easily grasp a starting role.

MARCH 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Plays 14 minutes Johnson (ankle) chipped in two points (1-4 FG, 0-2 3Pt) and one rebound over 14 minutes during Wednesday's 85-61 victory over Boston College.

Impact There seemed to be no problems with Johnson's previously injured ankle as the Tar Heels defeated Boston College during their second-round game of the 2023 ACC Tournament. Just like he was during the 2022-23 Tar Heels' regular season, he is expected to be a substitute option who logs fringe minutes whenever Pete Nance or Armando Bacot need some rest.

MARCH 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Possibly limited Saturday Johnson closed with zero points (0-1 FG) and two rebounds in 12 minutes during Saturday's 62-57 loss to Duke.

Impact There is a chance Johnson was limited by an ankle injury he suffered earlier during the game. He returned after the scare but will have his availability probable before North Carolina's next matchup, which will be against either Louisville or Boston College on Wednesday.

MARCH 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

UNC basketball's Puff Johnson injures ankle against Duke North Carolina basketball's Puff Johnson injured his ankle in the first half against Duke.

MARCH 5, 2023 • FAYOBSERVER.COM

Returns for rivalry game Johnson logged three points (1-4 FG, 1-3 3Pt), two rebounds, one assist and one steal across 16 minutes during Saturday's 63-57 loss to Duke.

Impact Johnson returned to action following a three-game absence and served as the sixth man -- in fact, he was the only reserve to see double-digit minutes. While it's great to see the junior wing back in action, he's unlikely to get on the fantasy radar when serving as a depth option in this capacity.

FEBRUARY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

UNC basketball's Puff Johnson to play against Duke North Carolina basketball coach Hubert Davis updated the status of junior wing Puff Johnson ahead of Saturday's game at Duke.

FEBRUARY 3, 2023 • FAYOBSERVER.COM

Will play Saturday Johnson (knee) will play in Saturday's game against Duke, Michael Koh of WCHL reports.

Impact After missing three straight games while dealing with a knee injury, Johnson returned to practice on Thursday and is slated to return. Johnson has appeared as the Tar Heels sixth man, playing a strong role off the bench this season.

FEBRUARY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not seen warming up Johnson (knee) wasn't seen warming up ahead of the Tar Heels game against Pittsburgh, Corey Crisan of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Impact Johnson wasn't expected to be available Wednesday, so his absence on the court during warm-ups shouldn't come as a surprise. The forward now looks set to miss his third straight matchup, which should pave the way for Tyler Nickel to see an uptick in his minutes off the bench.

FEBRUARY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wednesday's status appearing gloomy Head coach Hubert Davis said Monday that he doesn't expect Johnson (knee) to play Wednesday against Pittsburgh, Rivals.com reports.

Impact Coach Davis also said that Johnson's injured knee has improved, but at a slower pace than expected, per Rivals.com. If the junior forward eventually misses a third consecutive matchup, as anticipated, then Tyler Nickel would likely receive an expanded role off of the Tar Heels' bench versus the Panthers on Wednesday night.

JANUARY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't go Tuesday Johnson (knee) won't play Tuesday against Syracuse, C.L. Brown of The Raleigh News & Observer reports.

Impact Johnson will miss his second straight game while nursing a knee injury. His next chance to return will arrive Feb. 1 against Pittsburgh.

JANUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable at Syracuse Johnson could be available when the Tar Heels play at Syracuse on Tuesday, according to Rivals.com.

Impact Johnson suffered a knee injury before sitting out the Tar Heels' 80-69 win Saturday versus North Carolina State. Despite him not practicing on Sunday, they are optimistic in terms of his availability Tuesday at Syracuse.

JANUARY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

UNC basketball's Puff Johnson will not play against NC State North Carolina basketball's Puff Johnson was in a UNC polo and khaki pants ahead of the Tar Heels' game against NC State.

JANUARY 21, 2023 • FAYOBSERVER.COM

Gets starting nod Johnson is in the starting lineup for Saturday's game versus Louisville.

Impact Johnson will replace Seth Trimble in the starting lineup Saturday. He will make just his second start of the season.

JANUARY 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

'I got your back': UNC basketball's Caleb Love defends Puff Johnson after Notre Dame foul Here's what North Carolina basketball's Caleb Love, Puff Johnson and Hubert Davis had to say about Notre Dame's flagrant foul.

JANUARY 7, 2023 • FAYOBSERVER.COM

UNC basketball's Puff Johnson leans on his brother's wisdom in return from injuries Former Tar Heels forward Cameron Johnson, now with the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, has helped his younger brother navigate being sidelined at U...

DECEMBER 8, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Zero points across game started Johnson finished Sunday's 80-72 loss to Virginia Tech with zero points (0-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt) and one steal across 12 minutes.

Impact Johnson will try redeeming himself as December continues. He is expected to continue being a part of the Tar Heels' starting lineup while Armando Bacot (shoulder) sits out. But if Johnson continues supplying an output lackluster in their eyes, they could use another backup instead.

DECEMBER 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Part of starting lineup Johnson is a part of the Tar Heels' starting lineup Sunday at Virginia Tech, according to their official Twitter account.

Impact Johnson is starting in place of Armando Bacot (undisclosed). The usual backup averaged 5.6 points and 2.2 rebounds across his five games during November.

DECEMBER 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Hubert Davis on Puff Johnson's return North Carolina coach Hubert Davis talks about Puff Johnson’s return to the lineup following his recovery from an injury

NOVEMBER 23, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

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