WKU Basketball: Justin Johnson Gives Up Football; Rejoins Basketball In Time For Costa Rica Trip
After a tumultuous week for the Hilltopper basketball program, the WKU faithful got some good news on Sunday morning as we learned that senior power forward Justin Johnson will be giving up football to rejoin the basketball team just in time for their trip to Costa Rica this week.
This is huge news for a team that only had two scholarship big men with the team after Mitchell Robinson’s departure this week. Johnson’s return now ups WKU’s returning scholarship player number from zero to one. The 6–7 senior averaged 14.5 points per game and 9.4 rebounds during his junior season, while earning second team All Conference USA honors. Those players don’t grow on trees and he’ll not only provide valuable experience but also leadership and continuity joining walk-on Tyler Miller and Buffalo transfer Lamonte Bearden(who sat out last season) as players with experience in Stansbury’s system.
The decision for Johnson to join the football team was always a curious one , especially given the limited returning experience on the basketball roster and the team’s trip to Costa Rica. As recently as yesterday, Mike White made the following statement about Johnson’s football performance
Justin Johnson looks like a different player.
He’s put in the work. He fell in love with the grind.
The recent Robinson news and possible realization that being a first time football player at the highest level wouldn’t be easy had to play a factor in his decision making. Johnson will probably be the starting power forward for Stansbury’s second team. With his future no longer in doubt, WKU basketball won’t have to assimilate him in December or January. Realistically he was probably looking at the third string tight end position behind senior Deon Yelder and Juco transfer Mik’quan Dean. Despite the dearth of experienced talent returning to the tight end position, Johnson’s spot on the football team always seemed to come at an expense to the basketball squad that needed him much more. Johnson could still follow George Fant’s path by playing a bonus year on the football team in 2018 if he wants to. If that happens, he’ll now have valuable experience of participating in spring and the beginning of fall practice.
The trip to Costa Rica will only help with Johnson bond with his teammates and he’ll be used to playing with them by the time that practice starts in October. As bad as the Robinson news was this week, Johnson’s return does take a little bit of sting off the situation. WKU now has 12 of their scholarship players, once Josh Anderson (hopefully) qualifies and Robinson Idehan joins the team at the end of the 1st semester. With increased talent around him and the undisputed spot as team leader, Johnson should flourish during his senior year and hopefully take the Hilltoppers back to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2013.
What do you think of the Justin Johnson news? What impact will he have on both teams? Does his guaranteed spot now make WKU a lock for the NCAA tournament? Let us know in a comment below, via Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebookpage.
