UNC Basketball 2020-21 Player Preview: Donovan “Puff” Johnson

Our 2020-21 UNC Basketball player previews continue as we look at another freshman as part of the 2020 class and whether or not Puff Johnson can make a big impact

Kerwin Walton |

Roy Williams and his UNC Basketball staff are welcoming in a six-man 2020 recruiting class that ranks No. 2 in the nation and could be the best the head coach has had in a long time in Chapel Hill.

After a disappointing 2019-20 season, the hype around this class is real as many expect them to get the program on track and avoid another season like that. There’s also the thought that this class can find roles early on and earn some big minutes due to departures from a year ago.

One player from that class that could see an uptick in early minutes is four-star forward Donovan “Puff” Johnson. Puff is no stranger to UNC, either. His older brother, Cam, played two seasons in Chapel Hill under Williams before being selected as a lottery pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2019 NBA Draft. But Puff wants to create his own legacy in Chapel Hill and it begins this season.

What to Expect in 2020-2021

The Tar Heels had their fair share of struggles offensively last season and a lot of that was due to poor shooting. This year they are looking at their freshman class to help with that and Johnson fits that mold.

The 6-foot-8 small forward is a good perimeter shooter that should help provide some production on the floor for the Tar Heels. Johnson will likely look to play a similar role as his brother, Cam, did at UNC. Puff will be a bench piece to start off his career but with his shooting abilities, he could turn into a big weapon for that second unit and give the Tar Heels a boost offensively. Cam did end up starting at UNC and ended up being one of the best shooters in the ACC when it was all said and done.

Could Puff do the same? It’s possible but let’s not go that far in his first season at least. It’s really going to take time for him to get adjusted and right now, his best role is to be a good shooter that can provide a boost from the three-point line. With his quick release, Johnson can be a lethal long-range shooter on the court.

As for defense, the lanky Johnson may need to put on some muscle during his time at UNC so he isn’t bullied on the perimeter. Getting stronger will be a key for him in terms of his development moving forward. Adding that strength and some quickness will be something to watch moving forward.

Bold Prediction

As mentioned above, there will be some playing time available for Johnson as Williams will try to figure out his rotations. If Johnson can impress early, he could see an uptick in minutes which will lead to more production from him. The key for Johnson is to just get comfortable and not try to do too much. We have seen freshman get rattled a bit by the speed of the game and talent at the college level.

I don’t see that happening for him.

For my bold prediction, I’m going to say that Johnson will earn those minutes early on and impress by shooting well and playing good defense. I can see him making a solid impact right away averaging close to 8 points a game on the year which you would take from a freshman, especially in this loaded class. I’ll also say he’s going to average around 3 rebounds as well.

Make sure to check back with Keeping It Heel for more player previews as we continue to count down the days until the start of the season.