Penn State basketball added a transfer commitment from former North Carolina small forward Puff Johnson Wednesday. This is the 4th transfer commitment of the offseason for the Nittany Lions, joining former Temple SF Zach Hicks, former VCU SF Nick Kern and former VCU point guard Ace Baldwin.

Johnson never got into a groove at North Carolina, but has shown flashes of obvious talent. An unforgettable instance was the National Championship game in 2022, where Johnson dropped 11 points with 6 rebounds against the eventual champions, Kansas. Johnson only eclipsed double digits 5 other times across his career in Chapel Hill.

Johnson is a good defender and a strong rebounder, though the key in Happy Valley is to unlock his potential through confidence.

The 6-8 forward is originally from Moon Township, Pennsylvania.

The Nittany Lions have responded well to the loss of head coach Micah Shrewsberry, who accepted the Notre Dame job following this past season. He took the Nittany Lions to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, winning their first round matchup against Texas A&M before falling to a Texas team that went on to reach the Elite 8.

It’s unlikely that Penn State stays on the same level they were at last season compared to next season, especially considering the loss of Jalen Pickett. However, the recent moves the Nittany Lions have been making in the transfer portal is a great step in the right direction.