Brandon put his name into NBA consideration about 2 weeks ago and over this past weekend put his name into the transfer portal. He is 6'8" and had some very good games for Minnesota this past season. He had 8 threes on Christmas Day helping to bring Minnesota a win over Iowa. I wonder if he would even consider RU as a chance to play PF and help us for the next season? He is intriguing to me. What do some of you think? Maybe he could help but than again perhaps he would create a problem for minutes for Harper if he returns and Hyatt and Mag etc. I see too that there is still a possibility he could return to Minnesota. I am just looking for what many here would think.
Brandon Johnson
- Thread starter Knights 1212
- Start date
I don't think RU is adding anyone except a center at this point.
I like Johnson. Hard worker. But the 8 threes was a fluke. Yes, he had 8 threes in a game but that was more than half of his total for the year (14). He shot 25% from three.
Still a ton of unknowns. Could be premature making that statement.
The whole notion of a 5 as the only solution is really not true. We need someone who can be a person who
A) willing to grab rebounds
B) can offer some semblance of a post up option on offense.
C) can physically be strong enough or have enough arm length to be an adequate post defensive player.
D) is this player a 1 year rental vs a multiple year player??
You don't have to check all of these boxes to be a candidate but you have to have (I think) 2 of the 4 boxes checked off.
A) willing to grab rebounds
B) can offer some semblance of a post up option on offense.
C) can physically be strong enough or have enough arm length to be an adequate post defensive player.
D) is this player a 1 year rental vs a multiple year player??
You don't have to check all of these boxes to be a candidate but you have to have (I think) 2 of the 4 boxes checked off.
Agree, doesn't have to be a true 5, but has to be able to play minutes at the 5 on the defensive end when Omoruyi/Reiber are in foul trouble, or to step in to play significant minutes at the 5 (10+ if either Omoruyi or Reiber are injured).
Johnson is a 6-8, 220 PF... which is a bit slight for that role, but not out of the realm of possibility. He's a willing rebounder, can play offensively in the post, and is a 1 year rental... but he's also used to starter minutes at Minnesota, and I think it unlikely he'd be looking to drop down to a ~15 min backup role at Rutgers behind Omoruyi at C and Harper at PF.
The staff is not bringing somebody in that needs minutes at the 3 or 4 with Harper and Hyatt (and McConnell and Mag and Mulcahy and Jones and Palmquist) on the roster regardless of how many of those boxes are checked.
It's not even that the staff wouldn't look at them, it's that no Big Ten caliber player who can do those things would look at our roster and be all that interested.
Last edited:
I think he was only at Minnesota for one year after transferring from Western Michigan right? He seemed scrappy and had some skills I would assume he is looking for starters minutes and Pike seems very loyal to his current group.
I agree. Our "big man" transfer-in will likely be a guy from a lower-level school who is willing to play 15 mpg on a bigger stage.
Exactly. Which is why it was mind boggling when folks thought recruiting was “in trouble” because we were focusing on a kid like Pauly (a BE starter) and not someone better. The role is a tough sell to a proven talent.
Brandon Johnson would be an excellent pickup. He transferred from Western Michigan and was not starting early for Minnesota. He started out of necessity and has a 3 game, and rebounds offensively and defensively and plays defense. He also can shoot mid range. He was someone we could have used last year and I see no reason why he cannot be used this year. He is Pike’s type of player. He will not impact Ron, but would give Cliff help and can even be a stretch 4 or 5. I think if he doesn’t demand being a starter but Pike thinks he will use him at least 25 minutes a night, and he agrees , then I would sign on the dotted line. He would help our team as he is unselfish and a hustler and does a lot of the dirty work , Ron never wants to do.
I think this traditional notion of a 5 as our only option (like Myles) is short sighted. Just because someone is 6’8” doesn’t mean they are pigeonholed as a wing. From the limited knowledge of this player he would no it take Ron minutes. We’ve had undersized players play PF - Freeman in recent memory.
We need someone who can step in and defend against B1G fives if Omoruyi/Reiber are hampered either by foul trouble or injury.
6-8/220 is fine as a PF, but it's fairly slight defensively against B1G fives. Since Hyatt is already another body at the 3/4, I just don't see a lot of minutes being available there.
Looking at guys who have manned the 5 spot in recent years that were under 6-10:
Carter was 6-9/250
Doucoure was 6-9/250
Sa was 6-9/230
E. Omoruyi was 6-7/235
Foreman was 6-8/240
That’s fine for college. But if he truly has aspirations at the NBA - he is going to be a wing/outside player at 6’8” 220lbs.
Something many seem to be disregarding is the impact of RHJ potentially l drastically changing his role after getting NBA “feedback”.
At 6’6” 245lbs he needs to increase drastically improve his outside shooting and his wing defense in space.
Neither one of these are accomplished playing PF in the paint.
I think RHJ trying to take more 2/3/wing minutes is going severely under the radar.
Exactly. I’d be very surprised to learn we are pursing him. There are 3 schollie slots open. If Geo and RHJ return I see the pursuit odds as follows:
1) Back up 5 (intent to challenge DR for 15ish minutes) 100%
2) Possible second big (we won’t take 2 kids with multiple years of eligibility. If a grad transfer with utility D1 experience pops up late and we have a schollie to burn maybe there’d be interest in case the first kid is a complete bust) - 30%
3) I don’t think we’re actively in the market for a SG but if a frosh decommit comes on the market that Pike likes, it’s not out of the realm (Frosh can be redshirted - I don’t see us taking anyone at this position who has an expection of playing in year 1). 15%
Agree with this take.
And #2/#3 become higher priorities if Baker/Harper don't return. If the expectation from the staff is that they'll be back, my impression is that Pike will take a 5 (or a 4/5) and be done for this cycle.
I think so too (only 1 more addition feels like the most likely outcome). That said, I think the reasoning for not taking more would mostly be chemistry driven. So a late addition or two can’t be entirely ruled out (if the player doesn’t threaten this). A frosh, for example, would expect to learn under incumbents (wouldn’t resent not getting immediate PT). A BIG utility guy like Duke (dare I say - maybe even a kid who actually wants an RU graduate degree?) - also wouldn’t threaten chemistry.