Key contributor Chris Johnson departs UCF seeking his fourth program. His sharpshooting and playmaking proved vital to the Knights' historic tournament run.
With the transfer portal opening on Tuesday, the UCF Knights have lost Chris Johnson to the portal, as he searches for his fourth program.
Johnson exited UCF after one season and played a crucial role in the team's second 20-win season and breaking a six-year NCAA Tournament drought.
The 6-foot-5 guard had a breakout year with the Knights off the bench, averaging 6.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists. He was the fifth-best shooter from the perimeter, shooting 36.5% from three-point range on 2.7 attempts.
Johnson remained prepared for coach Johnny Dawkins when he needed more shooting and playmaking out on the floor.
"Being ready whenever my number's called," Johnson said on Dec. 11. "So, it's really nothing much else to it. [I] feel like I know what kind of player I am, and I'm confident with who I am, and whenever coach Dawkins needs me, I'mma be there to give the team what we need."
The sharpshooter had a 17-point performance against the then-unranked Vanderbilt Commodores, which was his first game donning the black and gold. He also had a 16-point outing against the Cincinnati Bearcats in UCF's second matchup of their series.
Johnson's high-scoring games are often fueled by his three-point shooting. Alongside shooting, he served as a backup guard for Riley Kugel or Themus Fulks.
His ability to handle the ball and operate in the pick-and-roll gave UCF additional playmaking to find open shooters or the big man rolling off a screen. He recorded five assists or more in five games last season.
Johnson credited his teammates and coaches for his improvement throughout the season in the 32 games he played.
"I think I made a lot of improvement, and I want to thank my coaches and thank my teammates for helping me do that as well," Johnson said before playing Baylor. "And I think I've improved in all aspects of my game, especially my defense."
Johnson is searching for his fourth program with one year of eligibility remaining. He started his collegiate career at Texas, where he played under five minutes a game.
The Texas native entered the portal and stayed local by transferring to Stephen F. Austin. He played three games and averaged 10.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Johnson trended toward a career season, but three games are a small sample size compared to the 32 games at UCF.
Despite Johnson entering the portal, Dawkins is proud that he became a part of the team's historic season and wishes him the best of luck in the next chapter of his journey.
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