Penn State basketball transfer portal: Puff Johnson stats and highlights

Once again, Mike Rhoades has pulled a major talent from the portal for his new-look roster ahead of the 2023-24 season. Today, a new Penn State basketball transfer portal addition joined the Nittany Lions’ growing roster: former top-100 recruit Puff Johnson of North Carolina. This is a huge pickup for Penn State’s roster as Johnson now joins other transfer stars — such as Ace Baldwin — in State College.

“It is not only close to home, but the people there make it feel like home for me,” Johnson told Joe Tipton of On3 about why he chose to commit to Penn State basketball.

Penn State basketball transfer portal addition: UNC forward Puff Johnson

Not only does Puff Johnson have an incredible name, but he also has the size and talent that Mike Rhoades is looking for to build his new Penn State basketball team. Puff Johnson is a 6-foot-8, 200-pound former composite four-star forward and Pennsylvania native — he joins fellow PA native Mike Rhoades (the Nittany Lions head coach) in year one of Penn State’s basketball rebuild.

During Johnson’s most recent season with the North Carolina Tar Heels, he averaged 4.1 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game, and shot 38.7% from the floor. Additionally, Johnson appeared in 27 games during the Tar Heels’ 2022-23 campaign and was known for his solid defensive abilities on the floor as well.

Let’s Rock #WeAre pic.twitter.com/Af2bpiMfEv

— Puff Johnson (@PuffJohnson14) April 26, 2023

Johnson as a recruit

As a high school recruit, Penn State basketball transfer portal addition Puff Johnson was a 247 Sports Composite four-star forward. He was ranked as the No. 69 recruit nationally, the No. 14 small forward in the class of 2020, and the No. 5 recruit in Arizona. Penn State basketball has long needed another large presence on the floor (to pair with the high-flying Ace Baldwin), and it appears as if the Nittany Lions have found exactly that.

Johnson brings three years of Power-6 basketball experience with him to State College and should fit in well with the Mike Rhoades scheme (strong defensive basketball).

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