Penn State men’s basketball forward Puff Johnson announced his return for a final year of eligibility on Tuesday night, confirming a report by CBS Sports Insider Jon Rothstein.
Johnson came to Penn State by way of North Carolina after spending three seasons with the Tar Heels. Over the course of his debut year in State College, Johnson averaged 7.6 points and three rebounds a game over the span of 20 appearances and eight starts. Johnson registered a season-high 19 points against Minnesota. He would go on to post 16 points in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, Johnson would score in double figures on seven occasions and was generally playing his best basketball the final few weeks of the season.
Penn State is still awaiting the decision of Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year, Ace Baldwin who – like Johnson – has a year of eligibility remaining due to an NCAA ruling which gave student-athletes enrolled during the COVID-19 pandemic an extra year of eligibility. The return of Johnson and Baldwin Jr. would help balance out an already busy offseason for head coach Mike Rhoades who is set to enter his second season at the helm of the program. So far five Nittany Lions have entered the transfer portal since the conclusion of the season with Jameel Brown, Favour Aire, Kanye Clary, Bragi Guðmundsson, and Demetrius Lilley all taking their talents elsewhere.
