DJ Johnson Enters Transfer Portal

[Joe95]

Entered the Portal. Another year with no three point shooting.

[CamsRams]

[Rhody15]

Come on...

He carved out a nice role last year and would've either had the same minutes or more this upcoming year.

[Joe95]

Hopefully they can fill the scholly with a quality transfer!

[CamsRams]

He had put some IG story post out a month or so ago that he had received some bad news. He said something like “when will it be my turn”. At the time, I assumed it was part of his end of year review with the staff regarding his fit with the team next year.

[PeterRamTime]

I like DJ

[Rhody15]

He had put some IG story post out a month or so ago that he had received some bad news. At the time, I assumed it was part of his end of year review with the staff regarding his fit with the team next year.

Total guess on my part, but I don't think the staff would jettison one of the best shooters on the team without reinforcements (which we do not currently have, I'm not counting El-Ahmin as the replacement for DJ). The bad news could have been family related or something along those lines.

[steveystuds06]

God dammit. I expected a big jump from Dj this season.

[DC_Rams]

He had put some IG story post out a month or so ago that he had received some bad news. At the time, I assumed it was part of his end of year review with the staff regarding his fit with the team next year.

Total guess on my part, but I don't think the staff would jettison one of the best shooters on the team without reinforcements (which we do not currently have, I'm not counting El-Ahmin as the replacement for DJ). The bad news could have been family related or something along those lines.

Family issues. More info should Leak soon.

[4Diffs]

I am sorry, I think this one is on Cox. This guy did not play enough and I have no idea why. For a team that had no shooting at least he was a threat out there. He should have played more, I remember Tim McCormack saying this during the A10 tournament game against Dayton. And yes, his defense was not great but the entire team was terrible defensively this year.

This is my biggest issue with Cox. He did it the previous year as well with Jacob Toppin not playing as much as he should have. And I will say it again, him playing Walker over Toppin down the stretch in the game on the Road at Davidson cost them that game, and a possible NCAA bid.

I really do not think he knows who his best players are. It is such a basic concept, play your best players, but he does not on such a consistent basis. The only thing I can come up with, is he is playing who he thinks are his best players but I have a real issue with who he thinks are his best players. Jalen Carey was unplayable and that was obvious after watching him in four games, yet he played a bunch in most games until the end of the season.

I have real doubts about our coach. A great guy on a personal level, but not identifying and playing your best players is a major issue with this program right now. I don't fault this kid for bailing at all. And I would not put it past Cox that he told the kid that he was not good enough to play here. Flat out wrong, but would explain why Johnson got very little run most of the year. And if he told him this, it just reinforces that he has no clue as how to judge basketball players.

And he holds no one accountable for how they play. Someone can go out there and half ass it for the entire game and his minutes would not change at all. And others who should be playing are glued to the bench, and if they come in and play well, it does not matter, their minutes do not increase. I found this year to be extremely frustrating in many ways, but the lack of any changes to a rotation that was just not working was glaring. Give people a chance if others are not producing. Maybe that lights a fire under them and gets them going. And if they are so weak to check out, so be.

I believe he was forced out. No proof of this, just my gut on this. I wish him good luck in his next stop, he should have been part of the rotation here and he was not.

[4Diffs]

And I just saw DC Rams post. If it is family issues, than clearly he was not forced out. But will stand by everything else I said in that post.

[Jersey77]

Very disappointed to hear, definitely hurts our depth up front and will miss his shooting touch. He was one of our very few zone breakers.
Not sure if Cox plans to use that open scholarship this year.
We have Martin on the wing along with Makhi and JH to backup the frontcourt, but none have his shooting ability.
Also Ileri and Lamb come in as freshman, but are unproven at this point.

[DC_Rams]

Every team in America lost kids. Some kids even started at P5’s. This transfer cannot be an indictment on anyone, but the nature of today’s NCAA.

[Jersey77]

I am sorry, I think this one is on Cox. This guy did not play enough and I have no idea why. For a team that had no shooting at least he was a threat out there. He should have played more, I remember Tim McCormack saying this during the A10 tournament game against Dayton. And yes, his defense was not great but the entire team was terrible defensively this year.

This is my biggest issue with Cox. He did it the previous year as well with Jacob Toppin not playing as much as he should have. And I will say it again, him playing Walker over Toppin down the stretch in the game on the Road at Davidson cost them that game, and a possible NCAA bid.

I really do not think he knows who his best players are. It is such a basic concept, play your best players, but he does not on such a consistent basis. The only thing I can come up with, is he is playing who he thinks are his best players but I have a real issue with who he thinks are his best players. Jalen Carey was unplayable and that was obvious after watching him in four games, yet he played a bunch in most games until the end of the season.

I have real doubts about our coach. A great guy on a personal level, but not identifying and playing your best players is a major issue with this program right now. I don't fault this kid for bailing at all. And I would not put it past Cox that he told the kid that he was not good enough to play here. Flat out wrong, but would explain why Johnson got very little run most of the year. And if he told him this, it just reinforces that he has no clue as how to judge basketball players.

And he holds no one accountable for how they play. Someone can go out there and half ass it for the entire game and his minutes would not change at all. And others who should be playing are glued to the bench, and if they come in and play well, it does not matter, their minutes do not increase. I found this year to be extremely frustrating in many ways, but the lack of any changes to a rotation that was just not working was glaring. Give people a chance if others are not producing. Maybe that lights a fire under them and gets them going. And if they are so weak to check out, so be.

I believe he was forced out. No proof of this, just my gut on this. I wish him good luck in his next stop, he should have been part of the rotation here and he was not.

Cox works with these players every day in practice, he knows what each one brings to the table, more so than anyone on this board.
We don't know the circumstances at this point, so we shouldn't make the judgement call at this time.
Players leave and everyone isn't going to be happy, that is why there is over 1500 players who entered the portal.

[rhodylaw]

Every team in America lost kids. Some kids even started at P5’s. This transfer cannot be an indictment on anyone, but the nature of today’s NCAA.

Agreed. I am disappointed though because I was expecting a breakout season. He will transfer probably down a league and dominate.

[Rhody15]

Every team in America lost kids. Some kids even started at P5’s. This transfer cannot be an indictment on anyone, but the nature of today’s NCAA.

Yea, we should be luck we only lost one kid. I'm not counting Fatts as someone we lost, as he played 4 full years here.

[Rhodymob05]

Just change the standard roster to 6 players so everyone plays and no one bitches. WTH

[CamsRams]

[DC_Rams]

Every team in America lost kids. Some kids even started at P5’s. This transfer cannot be an indictment on anyone, but the nature of today’s NCAA.

Agreed. I am disappointed though because I was expecting a breakout season. He will transfer probably down a league and dominate.

I liked his upside, but he very often seemed lost on very basic offensive and defensive sets. His athleticism made up for it in some cases though. I wish him all the best.

[Rhody74]

I don’t think it’s a huge loss. While he did get hot for stretches he just as consistently threw up a bunch of bricks. And his defense was also suspect.

[rhodylaw]

I don’t think it’s a huge loss. While he did get hot for stretches he just as consistently threw up a bunch of bricks. And his defense was also suspect.

Sure - not a huge loss, but he had a role on the team and the chance to have a bigger one if he cleaned up his D. Also give the kid some credit, in his first season of D-1 ball he shot the ball very well. I am partial to guys who can put the ball in the hoop.

[adam914]

I never really saw the potential for a breakout that others have with DJ. Seems like probably the right move for him and wish him the best wherever he ends up.

[Rhody15]

I never really saw the potential for a breakout that others have with DJ. Seems like probably the right move for him and wish him the best wherever he ends up.

I don't think he was going to breakout either, but it was nice having a player who you thought was making a 3 more times than not when he shot it. Sheppard was the only other player I felt like that about.

Bryant or a team on that level would seem to be a nice landing spot, unless he wants to transfer home for unspecified reasons. Bryant's run, gun and shoot system would seem to fit DJ well.

[Billyboy78]

Opportunity for Ileri and/or Samb to get minutes. Let's hope one or both take advantage of it.

[SGreenwell]

I don’t think it’s a huge loss. While he did get hot for stretches he just as consistently threw up a bunch of bricks. And his defense was also suspect.

FWIW, his DRTG was 5th on the team, when you exclude walk-ons and Makhi Mitchell's small sample size. However, there was a decent gap between him (100.9) and the top three (Makhel 97.3, Walker 97.7, Fatts 98.8), plus, a bad defensive lapse probably sticks in the mind more than being OK on other possessions. I thought he was fine on that end, especially for a first-year player that could shoot.

Ultimately, I think that's what makes his loss, late, tough to replace. It's probably not going to be super easy to find a guy who can play spot minutes at the 3 and 4, and shoot 38.5 percent from 3. Samb has some good-looking fadeaway shots and a 3 in his highlight reel, so maybe he can step in right away as a freshman, but it's nice to have options to allow to different lineups. (And plus, well, I still think our biggest issue on offense is having enough reliable outside shooting.)

[reef]

We were due to lose a player via transfer , hard not to have any in today’s college landscape. Good luck to him

[Rhody72]

Best for DJ and best for URI. He was not going to see many minutes of play. I don't mind having a scholarship in hand. My "guess" is that his scholarship was not guaranteed for next year. Perhaps there are players in the portal that Cox would rather have than DJ. No need to get down on anyone for this move.

[DeanDome88]

I liked DJ and wish him well. Unfortunate he did not stick around.

[RamStock]

I never really saw the potential for a breakout that others have with DJ. Seems like probably the right move for him and wish him the best wherever he ends up.

I agree. Not a big loss at all in the new college basketball world where transfers are the norm. Besides shooting he wasn’t a very good defender and should be at a lower level to get more time.

[Rhody_NYCT]

I liked DJ. Good shooter, but seemed to be one dimensional. I don’t think there were many more minutes in store for him. Wish him the best.

[TruePoint]

I never really saw the potential for a breakout that others have with DJ. Seems like probably the right move for him and wish him the best wherever he ends up.

Same

[LoveThoseRams]

He had put some IG story post out a month or so ago that he had received some bad news. At the time, I assumed it was part of his end of year review with the staff regarding his fit with the team next year.

Total guess on my part, but I don't think the staff would jettison one of the best shooters on the team without reinforcements (which we do not currently have, I'm not counting El-Ahmin as the replacement for DJ). The bad news could have been family related or something along those lines.

Family issues. More info should Leak soon.

I'm sorry to hear this. He seemed like a nice guy. I wish him well .

[LIRAM]

Wishing you all the best DJ.

[DanInAZ]

Every team in America lost kids. Some kids even started at P5’s. This transfer cannot be an indictment on anyone, but the nature of today’s NCAA.

Keep repeating this DC. Because lots still do not get it. Anyone paying attention to daily announcements from players on P5 teams, where their names were penciled in starting 5 position, but are transferring should not be posting ignorant ideas about it being 'head coach reason'.

[Gonebarongone]

Every team in America lost kids. Some kids even started at P5’s. This transfer cannot be an indictment on anyone, but the nature of today’s NCAA.

Keep repeating this DC. Because lots still do not get it. Anyone paying attention to daily announcements from players on P5 teams, where their names were penciled in starting 5 position, but are transferring should not be posting ignorant ideas about it being 'head coach reason'.

It can be both and there is no reason not to have a reasonable conversation about it. What is it, eleven guys that could have had URI eligibility next season are gone? When that is, at least partially, the reason you hire Cox it becomes a real discussion point that shouldn't be dismissed by saying that's just the way it is now.

[Rhody19/21]

Dam I’ll miss ya DJ. Always a great spark off the bench, look forward to seeing what he can do in the future (remember how little basketball experience he actually has).

[Shinze88]

It feels like he was destined to be a role player at best at this level. Was pretty much a 1 dimensional player with not enough bulk to guard a 4 or quick enough to guard a 3. He will land somewhere at a lesser conference and be a significant contributor at his next school. Best of luck DJ

[RAMFAN]

I'm surprised UMASS can offer

[Rhode_Island_Red]

I'm surprised UMASS can offer

Looks like Shinze88 had it right.

[steviep123]

Isn't there a two year wait to transfer in conference? If that's gone, would love to see Tre Mitchell at Rhody for obvious reasons, but also as a gut punch to slimy Bergeron who started smack with Rhody for no reason 2 seasons ago.

[Billyboy78]

Isn't there a two year wait to transfer in conference? If that's gone, would love to see Tre Mitchell at Rhody for obvious reasons, but also as a gut punch to slimy Bergeron who started smack with Rhody for no reason 2 seasons ago.

If Mitchell came here, that would mean that Bergeron would be here too.

[steviep123]

Isn't there a two year wait to transfer in conference? If that's gone, would love to see Tre Mitchell at Rhody for obvious reasons, but also as a gut punch to slimy Bergeron who started smack with Rhody for no reason 2 seasons ago.

If Mitchell came here, that would mean that Bergeron would be here too.

We don't have an opening for Bergeron - anyway it is a pipe dream.

[LoveThoseRams]

Yikes....Kent State

[Rhode_Island_Red]

Yikes....Kent State

Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming

[JimSidd]

Yikes....Kent State

Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming

I’m old enough to get this: classic CSN.

[LoveThoseRams]

Yikes....Kent State

Tin soldiers and Nixon’s coming

I’m old enough to get this: classic CSN.

4 dead in O-hi-O

[NHRamFan]

Except it was CSNY. The song was written by Neil Young.

[ramster]

[rhodylaw]

I think the MAC is a good spot for DJ, he could be really good there. Still not sure what happened that he left (unless other guys in the room are clearly better) because I thought he had a role here.

[Jersey77]

I think the MAC is a good spot for DJ, he could be really good there. Still not sure what happened that he left (unless other guys in the room are clearly better) because I thought he had a role here.

Averaged 15 min/game for the season and only 9 min the last 5 games. Probably wanted more than just being a role player with limited minutes off the bench. We didn't lose any front court players and gain Ileri and Samb plus Makhi returning, and hopefully a healthy JH.
He may could be an immediate starter there along with Sincere Carey who transferred from Duquesne.