Puff Johnson makes season debut

The Penn State men’s basketball team improved to 3-0 Tuesday night after blowing out St. Francis (Pa.) 83-53.

The Nittany Lions stuck to their normal starting five, but one change to the roster was the addition of Puff Johnson, who made his season debut with his new squad.

Johnson transferred to Penn State from the University of North Carolina, where he led the Tar Heels in scoring off the bench and was crucial in the team’s run to the finals during March Madness.

The four-star recruit is being eased into the lineup as he recovers from an injury that forced him to miss the first two games of the season.

In his first night in action, Johnson put up six points and four rebounds in his 16 minutes on the court.

“He always brings energy and it’s fun having him out there,” guard Ace Baldwin Jr. said.

His minutes on the court should increase as he gets to full strength said head coach Mike Rhoades.

Johnson will most likely take a spot in the starting lineup, or at least be in the closing lineup during games.

The 6-foot-8 forward was effective on both sides of the ball, and having him back will be crucial for when Penn State plays tougher opponents.

“It was just great to have him out there,” Rhoades said. “He’s a vet and he’s been through it and he’s a high IQ guy. He’s going to make us better. He already has.”

The blue and white had contributions from numerous players on the rest as four players had double-digits in the scoring column.

Kanye Clary led the team in scoring for the third straight game with 14 points, improving his already impressive start to the young season.

At halftime, the Nittany Lions were leading 46-18, which allowed them to try different lineups and get some of the names lower on the depth chart some playing time.

With nine transfers brought in this offseason, the team will still have to work on playing together and developing chemistry. Having Johnson on the court allows the team to find its identity with one of its key players healthy and playing.

Johnson’s next opportunity to ramp it up will be on Friday at 7 p.m. when Penn State hosts Morehead State before heading down to Florida in the ESPN Events Invitational.

Christopher Reynolds is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email him at clr5971@psu.edu.