Big Ten Basketball: Top 20 impact transfers heading into 2021-22 season
No. 1 Xavier Johnson – Indiana
The Hoosiers may have a top-100 recruit from the 2021 class in point guard Khristian Lander, but the Indiana Native who backed up Rob Phinisee last season will continue to come off the bench as Pittsburgh transfer Xavier Johnson joins new head coach Mike Woodson’s squad.
The 2020-21 season saw the 6’3 point guard finish in the top twenty in the nation in steals and was second in steal per game in the ACC. Having averaged one made three-pointer per game over his three seasons with Pittsburgh and only twice over those 84 games did he connect on four or more three-pointers, Johnson’s points are going to stem from his great first step and being able to take defenders off the dribble.
His dribbling ability, however, is his blessing and his curse. While it allows him to average 14 points per game by getting open looks inside the three-point line and allows him to find the open man when he draws the help defense, he also tends to dribble in trouble and is prone to turnovers. As a point guard, Johnson averaged almost seven turnovers per 100 possessions.
Next. Biggest offseason winners heading into 2021-22 season. dark
The bright lights and tough competition will cause no culture shock for the former member of the All ACC Freshman Team and Johnson should continue the success he has been having up to this point, and when all is said and done in Big Ten Basketball, Johnson will emerge as the top transfer the conference welcomed for the 2021-22 season.