Buffalo Basketball: Middle Tennessee guard Antwain Johnson transfers to the Bulls

Buffalo Basketball has a chance for a special 2018-19 season. But the program is also looking towards the future, adding a transfer for the year after.

Buffalo Bulls head coach Nate Oats has made recruiting transfers a priority during his tenure. And it has paid off.

While Oats has a history of bringing in transfers in his four seasons with the Bulls, he had never had a Division I transfer. That is until July 2 when senior guard Antwain Johnson committed to the Bulls per verbal commits.

Johnson comes to UB from Middle Tennessee State where he averaged 10.3 points on 44.4% shooting as well as 39.0% from beyond the arc last season. He also averaged 1.3 triples a contest.

Johnson improved tremendously from his sophomore season. Particularly in the shooting and scoring departments as well as his playmaking ability.

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The 6-foot-2 senior guard played his best basketball as a starter in 2017-18. After being inserted into the starting lineup in late January, he averaged 12.5 points and 2.3 assists and shot 50 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from three for the rest of the season. Overall, Johnson scored in double figures 18 times.

Johnson must sit out this season and will have a year of eligibility remaining. As he spent two seasons at MTSU and one at Chipola College. Johnson was dismissed from the Blue Raider program for a series of transgressions according to the Murfreesboro Post.  UB used its one scholarship remaining for the upcoming season to secure the services of Johnson.

Johnson is the ninth player to transfer to UB under Oates. The Bulls, who have gone the junior college route a number of times, will have four transfers on its roster in 2018-19. This includes three players who made significant contributions last season: Montrell McRae, Jeremy Harris and Dontay Caruthers.

Tra’Von Fagan is the fourth junior college transfer currently on the Bulls roster. Fagan averaged 9.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in his freshman season at Florida Southwestern State. The 6-foot-8 power forward scored in double figures 17 times in 2017-18.

Oats has led the Bulls to two NCAA Tournament appearances and a 64-39 record overall in three seasons. UB is coming off its best season ever, setting program records by going 27-9 overall and 15-3 in the MAC. The Bulls also earned their first-ever DI NCAA tournament victory by upsetting fourth-seed Arizona in the tournament’s opening round.

Other NCAA news:

• 2019 3-star small forward Terrence Hargrove committed to the Saint Louis Billikens on July 1. The 6-foot-6 East Saint Louis (IL) native averaged 18.1 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks as a junior.
• St. John’s transfer Mustapha Heron is seeking a waiver from the NCAA to become immediately eligible. Heron averaged 16.4 points last year at Auburn. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
• USC-Upstate has offered 2019 Beckley Prep (WV) forward JJ Reed.
• Former Middle Tennessee State forward Davion Thomas is transferring to Troy. Thomas played a total of 39 minutes for the Blue Raiders. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
• Virginia has offered 2020 big man Isaiah Cottrell. Cottrell now has 24 offers.

Next: Buckeyes hosts a number of 2019 and 2020 class recruiting prospects

• Senior Dan Dwyer has transferred from Pennsylvania to Hofstra.