Hoosiers Now

Xavier Johnson Eager to Lead New-Look Hoosiers, Feeling 100 Percent

Xavier Johnson received a medical waiver after missing most of the 2022-23 season, which granted him a sixth year of eligibility. And now, fully healthy and surrounded by a retooled Indiana roster, he's eager to get back on the court.

Jack Ankony

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – All Xavier Johnson could do was wait.

First, for his broken foot to heal, which didn't happen in time to rejoin the Hoosiers,  and then, for the NCAA to rule on his medical hardship waiver. The contrast between gaining a sixth year of eligibility or having his college basketball career end with an injury built a heavy weight on Johnson's shoulders across the roughly six-month period.

But that was finally over when Indiana coach Mike Woodson delivered the news of Johnson's waiver approval with a bit of humor.

"Coach called me," Johnson said with a grin. "And he asked me if I wanted to transfer."

Johnson told Woodson he was coming back to Indiana for the 2023-24 season, which marked perhaps the most important news of the team's busy offseason, amid commitments from a five-star freshman, a top-rated transfer and others. 

Indiana lost seven scholarship players from last year's NCAA Tournament No. 4 seed, making Johnson's leadership at point guard vital for Woodson's new-look roster as it moves past the Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino era. It'll take some time to build chemistry, tinker with rotations and find the best mix with six new faces, but continuity with Johnson at point guard should help ease the process. 

Johnson said on May 31 that he's feeling 100 percent, and the next step to improving his game is being more consistent. In his first year at Indiana in 2021-22, he averaged 12.1 points, 5.1 assists per game and played his best basketball in the final month of the season as the Hoosiers snuck into the NCAA Tournament. His scoring dropped a bit through 11 games in 2022-23, averaging 9.9 points, but he'll likely have more opportunities with five of Indiana's top six scorers gone.

"I think I'll have to step my scoring ability up this year," Johnson said. "Even though I have to pass a lot, too. I have to get my teammates involved, that's my best attribute. So I would say scoring on a consistent basis."

Johnson said Woodson asked for his input on transfer portal prospects this offseason, some of which landed at Indiana. In total, Woodson added three transfer forwards to the 2023-24 roster, including Kel'el Ware from Oregon, Payton Sparks from Ball State and Anthony Walker from Miami. Grouped with incoming freshmen Mackenzie Mgbako, Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton, Indiana's 2023 recruiting class ranks 10th in the nation and second in the Big Ten.

"We have a pretty unique team," Johnson said. "We'll be more athletic than last year's team. It's hard to compete with Trayce's athletic ability, but I think Kel'el [Ware] is up there because he's 7-foot and he can actually jump out the gym, as well. And he can spread the floor."

Ware had an underwhelming freshman season at Oregon, averaging 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds after being a top-10 recruit in the class of 2022. Tabbed as the No. 2 player in the transfer portal, Ware saw an opportunity for a fresh start at Indiana. Jackson-Davis left big shoes to fill, but Ware's pick-and-pop ability alongside Johnson could give Indiana's offense a new wrinkle.

"I haven't played with anybody I would say that's more consistent than [Ware] at [the pick-and-pop]," Johnson said. "I've played with a big his size, but not a big that can jump and stretch the floor, as well, so it'll be different."

Mackenzie Mgbako, a McDonald's All-American, was Indiana's other top addition this offseason. So far, Johnson has noticed the five-star freshman's ability to score at all three levels. After decommitting from Duke, Mgbako joined four-star guards Gabe Cupps and Jakai Newton to complete Indiana's 2023 recruiting class.

Entering what's now officially his last year in college, Johnson is taking on a larger leadership role as one of few multi-year contributors on the roster.

"Being a sixth-year, older guy, that's crazy to say," Johnson said, laughing. "I would say I'll have to be big bro. I'm not there to be their dad or anything – because I could probably be their dad – but I would say I'm accepting it as being a big bro and getting them through their freshman year of college, because I know how hard it is being a freshman coming in."

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Jack Ankony
JACK ANKONY

Jack Ankony is a Sports Illustrated/FanNation writer for HoosiersNow.com. He graduated from Indiana University's Media School with a degree in journalism. Follow on Twitter @ankony_jack.

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