The first domino of Auburn men’s basketball’s offseason roster reshuffle has fallen, as guard KD Johnson will enter the transfer portal for his fifth and final season of eligibility.
He confirmed initial reports on Tuesday morning with a post to his personal Instagram account. Based on NCAA Division I Council changes made in October, Johnson will have 36 days — until May 1 — to either find a new home or remove his name from the portal.
Johnson, who began his career at Georgia, transferred to Auburn for the 2021-22 season. In his three years as a Tiger, Johnson played in 102 games, averaging 9.4 points while shooting 38.2 percent.
In his first year on the Plains, Johnson was primarily a starter, being first on the floor in 31 of the 34 games in which he played. However, he’d make just one start for the remainder of his Auburn career, and this past season saw him utilized less than ever.
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Averaging 17.7 minutes in 35 games this season, Johnson’s floor time shrunk to less than 20 minutes in a career-first. He also averaged a career-low 7.1 points per game this season and shot a career-low 37.8 percent, too.
Statistically speaking, Johnson's first season at Auburn was his best. He averaged 12.3 points and a career-high 27.8 minutes. Just nine of his 31 games that season saw him score fewer than 10 points, and he notched a career-best 27 points in an overtime loss to a ranked UConn team.
Without Johnson, Auburn should still have a trio of regularly used guards from this past year's roster when next season starts, with Aden Holloway, Tre Donaldson and Denver Jones still having plenty of eligibility. The Tigers will also add a former five-star in freshman Tahaad Pettiford.