PUFF JOHNSON NEWS

Penn State basketball: What Ace Baldwin, Puff Johnson can bring in Year 5, opportunity for freshmen and more Penn State coach Mike Rhoades laid out what he thinks his two returning team captains can build on and also dove into his roster building ph...

JUNE 5 • 247SPORTS.COM

Leads the way in loss Johnson closed with 16 points (4-11 FG, 1-6 3Pt, 7-7 FT), eight rebounds and two steals across 31 minutes during Thursday's 61-59 loss to Indiana.

Impact Johnson posted a team-high 16 points, eight rebounds and two steals during Thursday's loss against the Hoosiers. The 6-foot-8 senior appeared in 29 games this season (12 starts), averaging 7.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.7 steals on 19.6 minutes per game,

MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE

Warming up for MSU game Johnson (undisclosed) is warming up for Penn State's game Wednesday against Michigan State, according to Daniel Gallen of 247Sports.com.

Impact Considered questionable according to the Big Ten injury report, Johnson warming up is at least somewhat promising, especially considering fellow day-to-day teammate Demetrius Lilley is wearing sweats in comparison.

FEBRUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

Out Sunday Johnson (undisclosed) is out for Sunday's game against Northwestern, per OnwardState.com.

Impact Johnson was previously listed as questionable but will now miss his second consecutive game for the Nittany Lions with an undisclosed injury. The senior forward has averaged 6.3 points and 3.1 rebounds per game in his time on the floor for Penn State this season. Johnson will now have to wait until Wednesday's matchup against Michigan State for his next chance to return.

FEBRUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Scores eight in slugfest Johnson racked up eight points (1-2 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-6 FT) and two rebounds over 11 minutes during Wednesday's 61-46 win over Rutgers.

Impact Johnson converted on all six attempts from the charity stripe, notching eight points and two rebounds off the bench against the Scarlet Knights. The 6-foot-8 senior has appeared in 19 games this season (10 starts), averaging 6.4 points, three rebounds and 0.7 steals on 18.8 minutes per game. Johnson's ability to get to the line proved critical during Penn State's victory, with the team shooting a measly 38.5 percent from the field on Wednesday.

FEBRUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Penn State hoops notebook: Puff Johnson's 'year of adjustments,' THON, returning from a layoff and more Veteran Puff Johnson has held a couple different roles in his first season with the Penn State basketball team, but his performance against...

JANUARY 25 • 247SPORTS.COM

Effective in limited opportunities Johnson ended with 13 points (5-6 FG, 3-4 3Pt) and seven rebounds over 19 minutes during Saturday's 79-67 loss to Ohio State.

Impact Johnson cashed in 5-of-6 looks from the field, closing with 13 points and seven rebounds in just 19 minutes of action Saturday. The 6-foot-8 senior has appeared in 17 games this season (10 starts), averaging 6.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.8 steals on 19.7 minutes per game. Johnson, who has been held back by a 37.0/26.9/63.6 shooting line this season, will look to stay on track against Minnesota next weekend.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Forces four turnovers Johnson amassed 10 points (3-8 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 4-4 FT), six rebounds and four steals across 25 minutes during Friday's 90-63 win over Rider.

Impact Johnson converted 3-of-8 looks from the field, closing with 10 points, six rebounds and a whopping four steals in a rout of the Broncos. The 6-foot-8 senior continues to see an expanded workload after cracking the starting lineup in early December. Through 11 games (six starts), Johnson is averaging seven points, 3.4 rebounds and one steal on 21.5 minutes per game.

DECEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Penn State hoops notebook: Puff Johnson's minutes to increase 'drastically,' bench 'army' to be tested, more Penn State basketball coach Mike Rhoades discussed a potential starting lineup change, how his team has shot 3-pointers and more during a Zo...

NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM

Six points, four rebounds Johnson logged six points (2-4 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-3 FT) and four rebounds across his 16 minutes during the Nittany Lions' 83-53 win Tuesday against St. Francis (PA).

Impact Johnson began his Lions career Tuesday. He transferred from North Carolina in the hope of playing more and better as a senior. Currently, Johnson's latest log is promising. He averaged 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds across his 2022-23 season. Johnson logged more of both Tuesday.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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