Conference Player of the Year Makes Final Transfer Portal Decision
The Zips finished the regular season with a 28-6 overall record, including an impressive 17-1 mark in MAC play.
Advertisement
Akron was the conference's lone representative in the NCAA Tournament. However, their postseason run was short-lived, as they struggled in their opening game and fell 93-65 to the Arizona Wildcats.
Despite the early exit, the Zips' successful season brought several individual accolades. Notably, Nate Johnson was named MAC Player of the Year for the 2024-25 season.
Following the conclusion of the season, Johnson announced that he would be moving on from Akron.
He has since chosen his next destination, making the leap from the MAC to the Big 12 Conference.
Joe Tipton of On3 Sports made the news official on Sunday: "NEWS: Akron transfer guard Nate Johnson has committed to Kansas State, he told @On3sports."
In Johnson's final season with the Zips, he posted 14 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.
Advertisement
Johnson will now suit up for Jerome Tang in Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats have missed the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons, though they reached the Elite Eight in 2023.
Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34).© Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In addition to Johnson, Kansas State has added two other transfers. Abdi Bashir Jr., a guard from Monmouth, is expected to contribute significantly on offense after averaging 20.1 points per game.
The other addition is Khamari McGriff, a 6-foot-9 forward from UNC Wilmington. McGriff was one of the top sixth men in the country, averaging 11.6 points per game and helping lead the Seahawks to the NCAA Tournament.
Related: Duke's Jon Scheyer Suffers Major Recruiting Loss on Sunday
Related: Duke's Cameron Boozer Sends Message to No. 1 College Basketball Recruit
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
14 hours ago
- USA Today
Nuggets' Cam Johnson details how he got traded from Suns to Nets
Denver Nuggets forward Cam Johnson will be playing for his third team in three years when the 2025-26 season tips off with him wearing a Nuggets jersey. While Johnson spent the past two seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, his 2022-23 season involved him getting traded for the first time in his career and he gave the details on how he found out about the deal. "That's what happened when I got traded from Phoenix to Brooklyn. It was my little brother that called me and then my dad and then my girlfriend at the time was like, "Oh my god." That's all she said," Johnson said during a recent appearance on "The Young Man and The Three" podcast. Johnson was one of the players that came to the Nets as a result of Brooklyn trading Kevin Durant to the Suns. "I'm like, "Huh," because I wasn't on Twitter. Like, I didn't have Twitter," Johnson continued. "So, it was just like I didn't hear about it until they called me and said, "You got traded." I'm like, "Are y'all joking?" Like it's 1:30 in the morning. But, this one I got a heads up on prior to and and that's appreciated. It's not like it means the entire world, but it is definitely appreciated." Johnson was traded to the Nets along with guard Mikal Bridges, four first-round picks (forward Noah Clowney was taken with the 2023 first-round pick), and a first-round pick swap in 2028. Johnson came to Brooklyn and played some of the best basketball of his career, including the 2024-25 season in which he averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 47.5% from the field and 39.0% from three-point land. While Nets general manager Sean Marks took his time trading Johnson in the midst of the trade rumors swirling around him throughout all of last season, the former North Carolina Tar Heel was finally traded to Denver. In return, Brooklyn received forward Michael Porter Jr. and a 2032 first-round pick that could prove to be one of the most valuable future picks that a team can have.
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Texans get crucial update on C.J. Gardner-Johnson after training camp ACL scare
A lot can change in a day. Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was believed to have suffered a torn ACL during Thursday's training camp practice, but according to ESPN, that is not the case. After further testing, Gardner-Johnson's injury 'isn't as serious as it could have been,' as his ACL is intact. Advertisement 3 C.J. Gardner-Johnson, pictured July 25, received some relieving news about his training camp injury. AP Perhaps the most shocking part of ESPN's report is that 'it's not out of the question that he could be back as soon as the regular-season opener vs. the Rams.' The news comes as a relief to the Texans, as the team seemingly expected much worse. Gardner-Johnson was injured making a tackle on wide receiver John Metchie III — he pounded the ground in frustration and couldn't put any weight on his leg after the injury. Advertisement 3 C.J. Gardner-Johnson, pictured during training camp, is in his first season with the Texans. Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans' mind certainly thought of the worst-case scenario in the moment, as he called the scene 'heartbreaking' and said it was 'tough to watch,' according to KPRC2. With the new assumption that Gardner-Johnson will be healthy in the near future, Houston can exhale. Advertisement The 27-year-old is coming off a solid season for the Eagles in which he started 16 games in the regular season and all four postseason games en route to winning Super Bowl 2025 over the Chiefs. 3 C.J. Gardner Johnson celebrates the Eagles' Super Bowl win Feb. 9. REUTERS Gardner-Johnson signed with Philadelphia ahead of last season on a three-year, $27 million contract coming off an injury-riddled season with the Lions. The safety found his way to the Texans via trade when they acquired him and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Eagles in March for guard Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-rounder. Advertisement Gardner-Johnson joins a Houston team that's coming off back-to-back 10-7 seasons led by Ryans and young quarterback CJ Stroud. The Texans were bounced in the divisional round in both seasons, and they now hope Gardner-Johnson can be a defensive piece that could get them over the hump in the playoffs.
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Texans' C.J. Gardner-Johnson reportedly could be back for Week 1 following knee injury
On Thursday, the Houston Texans thought they might have lost star defensive back C.J. Garnder-Johnson for the season after he suffered a knee injury in the final day of practice at The Greenbrier. Now, he's potentially in line to return to the lineup for Week 1's showdown at SoFi Stadium. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Gardner-Johnson's ACL remains intact after being carted off during Thursday's practice. After further testing at The Greenbrier, it was revealed that the injury was not as severe as initially feared, but he's expected to miss several weeks. Schefter believes that Gardner-Johnson could play Week 1 on the road against the Los Angeles Rams, but other reports indicate that the Texans won't rush back the defensive back, so a late-September addition could be more in line given the injury's severity. Even if Gardner-Johnson is limited to begin the regular season, the news that it is not an ACL tear is good news Houston, which added the Pro Bowl safety as the missing link to form one of the league's top secondaries with All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback Kamari Lassiter and nickel defender Jalen Pitre. Acquired in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and former first-round pick Kenyon Green, Gardner-Johnson was an anchor for the Eagles' secondary en route to a Super Bowl title last season. He totaled six interceptions and 12 pass breakups. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans seemed concerned about the severity of the injury, calling the moment 'heartbreaking' on the field. "I'm always nervous as a head coach anytime I see anybody hit the ground, it's tough to watch," Ryans said. "So, we'll see, we'll evaluate C.J., see where he is." Since the Texans don't have a set time for Gardner-Johnson's return, they could still look to free agency for further depth at safety for the remainder of the preseason. Safety Jimmie Ward, who remains out with a foot injury, is currently dealing with legal matters after his arrest in June and could be suspended several games by the league office. For now, the Texans will turn to defensive backs Myles Bryant and M.J. Stewart in the meantime. They could also see if Jaylin Smith, the team's third-round pick out of USC, can fill in for reps during the preseason.
