Shaq Johnson Headed to JUCO

Jan 2, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA: Florida State Seminoles guard Michael Snaer (21) tries to keep the ball away from Auburn Tigers forward Shaq Johnson (5) during the second half at Auburn Arena. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

In a surprising and yet refreshing move, Shaq Johnson will be headed to a Junior College this season. As a freshman at Auburn last year, Johnson was an athletic guard who excited crowds with his leaping ability and showed some tantalizing potential.

Over the course of the off season, news came out that Johnson was kicked of the Tigers’ roster for violating team rules. It turns out the Auburn guard was arrested with possession of marijuana and the coaching staff as well as the school felt that they could not allow Johnson to remain on the team after breaking the law.

According to Brad Winton of JUCO recruiting, Johnson has agreed to play for Northwest Florida State in 2013-14. The team was one of the strongest Junior Colleges in the country and the addition of a legitimate division one talent like Johnson will only make them better.

For Johnson, this is an excellent move. He will take the time to mature a little bit, learn from his mistakes and get the chance to prove he belongs in division one basketball. From the get-go, Johnson should be one of the best players, and most dominant scorers in his league and should really show his full skill set to potential suitors.

After a season, if all goes well, Johnson should open up some offers from other programs for himself. If he puts together a really dominant season and stays out of trouble, he may very well end up on a big time program and become a key part of a strong team. Johnson’s talent is too big for Junior Colleges, he just needs the chance to prove it.