UNC Basketball: Cam Johnson named top transfer in college basketball

New UNC wing Cam Johnson was named the top transfer in all of college basketball.

We are still weeks away from the start of the 2017-18 college basketball season which means award watch lists, preseason teams, top returners and more lists are being released.

The latest one from CBS Sports highlights a newcomer to the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Graduate transfer Cameron Johnson was recently named the top transfer in all of college basketball by the website.

Johnson beat out Kansas Jayhawks transfer Malik Newman for the top spot.

Here’s a little of what the author, Kyle Boone, said about Johnson:

After a winding, dramatic release process following his decision to transfer from Pitt to the University of North Carolina, Cameron Johnson figures to be an integral piece of the Tar Heels’ puzzle in 2017 as a graduate transfer. The 6-foot-8 guard, who was third on the team last season in scoring, should be a seamless replacement for 6-8 small forward Justin Jackson — an All-ACC level player getting paid to play the game for the Kings now.

Johnson announced he was transferring out of Pitt back in May of 2017. Pitt restricted his options including any team in the Atlantic Coast Conference. But it was the Tar Heels that he was interested in.

After weeks of waiting, Johnson was granted his release from Pitt and was able to join the Tar Heels. He did exactly that in June.

Johnson was one of the best players for Pitt during the 2016-17 season and gives UNC a scorer on the wing. The guard averaged 11.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 per game for the Panthers last season.

He also gives them a legit three-point shooting option.

Johnson shot 41.5 percent from behind the three-point line, which will be a boost to a Tar Heels team that struggled from beyond the arc.

With UNC losing production from Justin Jackson, Isaiah Hicks, Tony Bradley Jr. and Kennedy Meeks, landing Johnson was huge. Johnson and the Tar Heels will hit the court for a practice at this week’s Late Night With Roy event.

They will open the season on Nov. 10 against Northern Iowa.