Cam Johnson transfer block remains for UNC; Rawle Alkins returning to Arizona

Cameron Johnson may want North Carolina to be his next home, but Pittsburgh isn’t budging.

The university issued a statement this weekend saying Johnson was still blocked from being immediately eligible if he transfers to a school within the ACC. Even though Johnson is a graduate transfer, his previous school can block him from transferring within the conference.

Pittsburgh has made a slight alteration for Johnson if he wishes to transfer to an ACC school and get financial aid while being able to play in the 2018-19 season.

“Cameron Johnson and his father were informed of our policy as well as the appeals process when they elected to seek to transfer,” the school said via a press release. “They went through our transfer appeals process and were granted permission to contact ACC schools however, the committee upheld the policy to limit immediate eligibility within the conference.

“If Cameron were to transfer within the ACC, he would be eligible to receive financial aid immediately but would have to sit out a year of competition due to standard NCAA transfer regulations. Throughout this process, we have remained consistent to our department policy and we will continue to do so.“

That all but eliminates the Tar Heels from consideration, and it sounds like Arizona could be out as well. On Sunday, shooting guard Rawle Alkins announced he’s bypassing the NBA Draft to return to Tucson.

That’s big for Johnson, who was waiting to see what Alkins did before making his transfer decision.

With Alkins back at Arizona, that backcourt it too crowded for Johnson’s liking. That means Kentucky may very well be back in the lead for Johnson, assuming Hamidou Diallo remains in the draft.

But if Diallo returns to Kentucky, that should take them out of the running for Johnson, who likely then leans toward Oregon, UCLA or TCU.