The nightmare continues for the North Carolina men’s basketball program. Puff Johnson announced he would take his talents to the transfer portal.
The news produced shock waves as fans pondered what next season will look like with so much talent leaving. Johnson joins Tyler Nickel, Justin McKoy, and Dontrez Styles as Tar Heels in the transfer portal, putting a significant dent in UNC’s depth.
Johnson was not the first and may not be the last to join the transfer portal as speculation continues to swirl. The other scary part of the continued nightmare for Tar Heel fans is the status of Caleb Love, RJ Davis and Armando Bacot.
None of the three has declared they will return. The pressure is on for Hubert Davis and the staff; fans blame them for the lack of bench usage.
Unsurprisingly, fans did not take too kindly to the news of another Tar Heel in the portal, especially a fan favorite such as Johnson. So let us look at how Twitter reacted to the breaking news.
Puff Johnson is the latest Tar Heel to enter the transfer portal.
He would have had as good a chance as anyone on the team to start at the “3” or “4” next year. #UNC
— ryan (@rmsevensports) March 22, 2023
There was a really, really high possibility that Puff Johnson was going to start at the three for UNC this coming season. And, relative to most of the bench, he got decent PT.
What in the hell is going on behind the scenes? I understood the other transfers, but this one is bad.
— DruOrFalse (@DruOrFalseTTV) March 22, 2023
Disappointed to hear Puff Johnson is leaving #UNC via transfer. He's a good player, but the injuries have really robbed him of his opportunity to cash in on his potential. I wish him, Dontrez, Justin & Tyler luck tho. Hopefully we won't have any more folks transfer out. And of…
— Biz LB (@LBrothersMedia) March 22, 2023
Puff Johnson announces on Instagram that he's entering the transfer portal, confirming @TiptonEdits report.
FWIW, this isn't a complete shock. Good bit of chatter recently about Puff entering in search of more of an opportunity. Now 4 UNC bench players gone portaling.
— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) March 22, 2023
Puff Johnson just entered the transfer portal… what is happening at UNC??
— Pevsi🎒 (@Khalil0324) March 22, 2023
Puff Johnson has entered the transfer portal. Wow.
— Joshua Dolgoff (@jdolgoff3) March 22, 2023
Me at home now that Puff is leaving.. pic.twitter.com/H2hYYfu81F
— Puff Johnson fan club (@btbrookshire_) March 22, 2023
Man this one really hurts… 😢 https://t.co/XOqjNfLh9M pic.twitter.com/pnVepekNST
— Billy McCormick (@billy_unc97) March 22, 2023
College basketball in 2023 absolutely sucks. Shame on the @ncaa for letting the portal get this out of hand.
— Tar Heels (@Tar_Heel22) March 22, 2023
GOOD THING ITS ALMOST BASEBALL SEASON SO IM TOTALLY NOT FOCUSED ON THIS OR DEVASTATED https://t.co/LvhKU0Ogdy pic.twitter.com/FgMKGQTdA6
— Elizabeth Carroll (@3beth11) March 22, 2023
This is the new reality of college basketball. Takes some adjustment.
It sucks. Puff is a fan favorite (one of mine too) and I’m going to root for him wherever he goes.
The Johnson family has been excellent to Carolina and they will always be Tar Heels. https://t.co/hQlnuDcpqp
— UNC Humor (@UNC_Humor) March 22, 2023
#UNC is losing ALL four of their small forwards. Puff Johnson is turning down the opportunity to play 30-35 mins at UNC! Something is wrong in the locker room, Hubert Davis has questions to answers… just my opinion
— Trey Scott (@TreyScott_NC) March 22, 2023
Hubert Davis will have plenty of roster spots that he can fill with top transfers or reclassified recruits. People don’t realize he basically has a chance to completely fill the team with HIS players now.
UNC’s bounce back will be much bigger than their fall!
— Mike Curmi (@MikeCurmi) March 22, 2023
The question is now, what trick does Hubert Davis have up his sleeve on what he plans to do in filling their spots?
— Noah Monroe (@thenoahmonroe) March 22, 2023
I need Hubert Davis at a press conference desk with some explanatory words for this current state of the program
— Rameses Burner (@ramesesburner) March 22, 2023
Puff Johnson leaving is interesting. Because he was IMO the only player off the bench who had a defined role consistently and was probably walking into a starting role next year.
Where there’s smoke… #UNC
— Travon Miles (@TrayABC11) March 22, 2023
The four transfers from North Carolina accounted for 11% of minutes played and shot a combined 28% from 3 this season.
The Tar Heels now have the opportunity to upgrade shooting in the portal.
— Bryan Ives (@awaytoworthy) March 22, 2023
