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The Kentucky Wildcats are still in the mix for Pitt graduate transfer Cameron Johnson.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, Johnson has narrowed his list of schools to six, which includes Kentucky:
Pittsburgh graduate transfer Cameron Johnson told ESPN his final six: Arizona, Kentucky, Ohio State, Oregon, UCLA, TCU.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 21, 2017
That’s an interesting group of schools, being that Kentucky and Arizona are the only two that have a chance to be Final Four contenders next season. UCLA and Oregon lose most of their rosters, so while they have more minutes available, they don’t offer Johnson a great chance to do more there than he accomplished at Pitt.
Arizona could be the preseason favorite to win it all next season, but they’ve got a deep backcourt as it is with Allonzo Trier, Rawle Alkins (if he passes on NBA Draft) and Parker Jackson-Cartwright, along with incoming freshman Brandon Randolph.
Ohio State has been a mess for the past two years, and TCU hasn’t been much better. However, TCU has former Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon now, and he’s the man who recruited Johnson to Pitt. one would think they still have a close relationship, but going to TCU is still more of a lateral move. One would think this comes down to Kentucky and one of those Pac-12 schools.
This past season, Johnson averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in the first year of the Kevin Stallings era at Pitt. Johnson finished fifth in the ACC in three-point percentage (.415) and eighth in three-point field goals (2.36 per game).
Johnson is a rare type of graduate transfer, as he will not only be eligible to play right away wherever he goes, but he’ll also have two years of eligibility remaining. The Moon Township (PA) native will earn his degree in three years at Pitt and have two seasons of eligibility remaining after receiving a medical redshirt for the 2014-15 season.
And at 6-8, 210 pounds, Johnson has the size and athleticism to play either the 2 or 3 spot while also getting spot duty at the 4 in small-ball lineups.
But since Johnson isn’t graduating until late this month, he’s not planning to make a decision until sometime in May. That could be good for Kentucky since they still hope to land Kevin Knox, who should decide either next week or the first week of May.