Report: North Carolina Transfer Puff Johnson 'Receiving Interest' From Kentucky

The Wildcats are one of many programs reaching out to the forward who never broke through as a Tar Heel.

The NCAA Tournament is yet to conclude, but that isn't stopping the transfer portal. 

Seasons have been coming to an end for teams since the beginning of March, meaning the time has come where hundreds of players begin to look for new homes at new schools. As new names are announced as in the portal, along usually comes a list of teams that are reportedly interested in said player. 

(Looking at you, Arkansas.)

While Kentucky is yet to have a player enter the portal, it has been linked with someone as a potential Wildcat next season. CBS' Jon Rothstein tweeted that North Carolina forward Puff Johnson has heard from UK, as well as a heap of other programs: 

North Carolina transfer Puff Johnson tells me that he's receiving interest from the following programs:

Kentucky
Indiana
Arizona State
TCU
West Virginia
Pitt
Oklahoma
LSU
Butler
Seton Hall
Tulane
Colorado State
Grand Canyon
UC Santa Barbara
Duquesne

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 26, 2023

The connection here is clear. Johnson hails from Moon Township, Pa. The same hometown of Kentucky head coach John Calipari. He came out of Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix as a top-100 4-star recruit in the class of 2020. 

Kentucky was not in the running for the 6-foot-8, 200-pounder, as his final seven schools before committing to UNC was Arizona, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Pittsburgh. 

Johnson has never broken through in his three seasons as a Tar Heel. As a freshman, he played in 14 games and played more than five minutes just twice. He took on a bigger bench role as a sophomore, playing 24 games, averaging 10.4 minutes. 

He scored a career-high 16 points and had five rebounds in a win over NC State that season, and even contributed 11 points, six boards and an assist in UNC's National Championship loss to Kansas. Those were two of only three games where he eclipsed 10 points that year. 

This season, Johnson appeared in 27 games and averaged 15.9 minutes, a slight uptick. He averaged just 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds, shooting 38.7 percent from the floor (28.3 percent from 3-point range). 

The hometown connection could land Johnson in Lexington for his senior season.

Inside Kentucky basketball's somber locker room after NCAA Tourney defeat HERE.

More on the potential roster overhaul in Lexington HERE.

More on the loss to Kansas State HERE.

Want the latest on national football and basketball recruiting, including Cats targets? Head over to SI All-American for the latest news, blogs, and updates about the nation's best prospects.

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