ETSU adds guard Jalen Johnson as graduate transfer from Vols

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — East Tennessee has added guard Jalen Johnson as a graduate transfer from Tennessee to a team that won the Southern Conference Tournament title and went 30-4 this season.

Coach Steve Forbes announced the signing Thursday.

The 6-foot-6 Johnson graduated from Tennessee in December and decided to transfer after playing in 70 games with the Volunteers, including two NCAA Tournament berths. The native of Durham, North Carolina, started two of 31 games he played this season for Tennessee and averaged 3.5 points and 2 rebounds per game. He shot 85% at the free-throw line.

“He’s long, athletic and gives us added size and experience on the perimeter,” Forbes said. “Jalen is a very mature young man and is someone I expect to provide leadership to our team on and off the court. His experience playing and practicing at Tennessee provides Jalen an invaluable asset towards his future success at ETSU.”

He joins a team that was two spots out of The Associated Press Top 25 rankings after clinching an NCAA Tournament berth with the Buccaneers’ 12th straight win, a victory over Wofford in the Southern Conference tourney title game. But the Bucs had five seniors on that squad.