Auburn fan favorite dials up hype for incoming transfer

Auburn basketball fan favorite K.D. Johnson hyped up incoming Alabama-Huntsville transfer Chaney Johnson on Twitter on June 26, claiming that the world doesn’t know how good the forward is on Johnson’s birthday.

Johnson was selected as Alabama’s Small College Athlete of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association back on June 7 after averaging 16.8 points per game and being named first-team All-Gulf South Conference during the 2022-23 season. He’ll replace Allen Flanigan in the Tigers’ rotation. Bruce Pearl previously called Johnson the “perfect example of the American dream” after pulling from the portal to the Plains.

“The perfect example of the great American dream,” Pearl said (h/t AL.com). “He will have the opportunity to impact our team right away. Auburn Basketball just got better.”

Chaney Johnson to be ‘massive part’ of something special for Auburn basketball

Auburn Daily’s Andrew Stefaniak has full faith in Johnson working out for the Auburn basketball program, so much so that he claimed that the UAH transfer will be a “massive part” of something special during the 2023-24 season.

“Johnson’s three-point percentage was down last season, but he is a 37% career three-point shooter, so we know he can make them,” Stefaniak prefaced before saying, “He plays hard defense, can drive the ball, and throws it down with authority. Johnson’s ability to play multiple positions will help this Auburn basketball team and help him get plenty of minutes. Coach Pearl is building something special for the 2023-24 season, and Johnson will be a massive part of that.”

Johnson can fill an offensive void for Pearl’s team as a slasher and finisher in transition, though it’s unclear whether or not he’d be favored in the rotation over the more SEC-experienced Chris Moore at the 3. Starting or coming off the bench, Johnson is guaranteed to have a major role during his first opportunity under the brightest lights of college hoops.