UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Penn State men's basketball head coach Mike Rhoades announced the addition of six-foot-eight North Carolina transfer Donovan "Puff" Johnson to the Nittany Lion program Thursday. Johnson joins Penn State with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Puff Johnson – 6-8 Wing – Moon Township, Pa. – Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.)/Moon Area High School – North Carolina
Johnson appeared in 65 games through the first three seasons of his collegiate career at North Carolina. He averaged 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 15.9 minutes per contest during the 2022-23 season for the Tarheels, highlighted by double-digit scoring efforts in games against Alabama, Notre Dame and Louisville.
Johnson played a key role in North Carolina's run to the 2022 national championship game during his sophomore season. He tallied 11 points and six rebounds in the national championship game against Kansas to highlight a six-game NCAA Tournament run in which he averaged 5.0 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest. He saw action in 14 games during his freshman season with the Tarheels in 2020-21.
A top 100 recruit in the 2020 class and the 2019 Pennsylvania Class 5A Player of the Year, the Moon Township, Pa. native played three seasons at Moon Area High School before spending his final prep season at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix, Ariz. Johnson scored 1,960 points throughout his prep career while leading his teams to a combined 103-19 record.
Johnson averaged 14.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 44.6 percent from 3-point range during his season at Hillcrest Prep. He was also a finalist at State Farm's national three-point shooting contest.
A two-time all-state and three-time all-section honoree at Moon Area High School, Johnson earned PIAA Class 5A, Pittsburgh Tribune, Beaver County Times and Sectional Player of the Year honors in 2019. He averaged 22.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while leading Moon Area to the 2019 PIAA Class 5A championship.
Johnson is the younger brother of Cameron Johnson, a current starter on the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
Rhoades on Johnson: "I'm excited with the commitment of Puff as a player, person and a native of Pennsylvania. He starts the connection of keeping PA players home. Puff's versatility, toughness and confidence will make us better from day one. It's a great day to be a Nittany Lion!"
