Former Akron Zips basketball star Nate Johnson announces transfer to Kansas State
Johnson announced on social media Sunday, April 20, he has committed to continue his college basketball career at Kansas State.
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Zips news: Akron men's basketball coach John Groce agrees to another contract extension
When last season ended, Johnson told the Beacon Journal he planned to return to the University of Akron, and he later announced he would be back with the Zips men's basketball team. However, Johnson reversed course when he entered the NCAA transfer portal last week.
As a redshirt junior guard last season with Akron, Johnson was voted Mid-American Conference Player of the Year, MAC Defensive Player of the Year and the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. He averaged 14 points on 43.9% shooting from the field, 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.7 steals in 30.1 minutes.
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More Akron basketball: Zips great Enrique Freeman helps Pacers earn historic comeback vs. his hometown Cavs
Akron Zips guard Nate Johnson (34) plants a kiss on the Mid-American Conference Tournament championship trophy at Rocket Arena on Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Akron's season ended March 21 with a 93-65 loss to Arizona in a first-round NCAA Tournament game in the East Region in Seattle. Akron went 28-7, and its 28 wins are a school record.
Johnson is the second starter Akron has lost to the transfer portal this offseason. Senior forward James Okonkwo also changed his mind and committed to Utah after announcing he would be back with the Zips.
In terms of additions Akron has made this offseason, former Ohio State wing Evan Mahaffey announced his transfer to UA. His younger brother, Eric, is with the Zips, too.
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Former Akron Zips star Nate Johnson announces transfer to Kansas State
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Doris Lemngole, Samuel Ogazi win outdoor national championships One of Alabama's final moments of the 2024-25 year came at the outdoor track and field championships when the duo of Doris Lemngole and Samuel Ogazi both took home national titles. Lemngole broke the collegiate record while winning the women's 3,000m steeplechase national title, while Ogazi took home men's 400m honors. 9. Grant Nelson blocks Duke's Cooper Flagg in Elite Eight A moment that captured national attention, Alabama forward Grant Nelson denied Duke's Cooper Flagg at the rim during the Crimson Tide's Elite Eight loss at the hands of the Blue Devils, something few, if any, did throughout the 2024-25 college basketball season to the future No. 1 overall pick. Yes, there were not many memorable moments from an Alabama standpoint in this season-ending loss, but this block from Nelson was certainly one that could be talked about for years to come as both enter the NBA. 8. 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Overall, Alabama made 25-of-51 three-point attempts (49%), headlined by a 10-for-16 showing from Mark Sears, breaking a 35-year-old NCAA Tournament record that had stood since 1990. 4. Sarah Ashlee Barker forces double overtime, breaks program record There were few individual performances better than what Sarah Ashlee Barker did in a second round loss against Maryland in the NCAA Tournament, breaking the Alabama program record for points in a game with 45. As part of this performance, Barker also delivered one of the more memorable individual moments of the year, making three consecutive free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining to force double overtime. 3. Zabien Brown's game-sealing interception vs. Georgia Likely the Crimson Tide's biggest win on the football field last fall, Alabama's victory over Georgia produced many memorable moments, the first of which was this huge game-sealing interception in the end zone by true freshman cornerback Zabien Brown. 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