PITTSBURGH – ACC News and Notes during the final week of April were headlined by former North Carolina guard Penn State joining the Penn State Nittany Lions. Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and Virginia each received commitments from an incoming transfer.
Former UNC Guard Puff Johnson Commits to Penn State
Moon Township native and former North Carolina guard Puff Johnson has committed to Penn State, he told Joe Tipton of On3 Wednesday.. Johnson heard from numerous programs, including Pitt, after placing his name in the portal. He recently visited PSU and new head coach Mike Rhoades before deciding. The 6-foot-8 junior concluded his third season at UNC this past March and averaged 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 27 games (two starts).
The brother of Brooklyn Nets and former UNC and Pitt guard Cam Johnson, Puff scored 200 career points and a career-best 110 during the 2022-23 campaign, where he averaged nearly 16 minutes per contest.. Johnson has two years of eligibility remaining. The Nittany Lions clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Coach Micah Shrewsberry left the program for Notre Dame, leaving the door open for Rhoades to leave VCU for Happy Valley. Johnson scored 11 points in the 2022 National Championship Game against Kansas in one of his best collegiate performances.
Gonzaga Transfer Hunter Sallis Commits to Wake Forest
Wake Forest has landed a former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American in the transfer portal. According to Tipton, former Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis has committed to the Demon Deacons. A 6-foot-5 incoming junior from Omaha, Nebraska, Sallis averaged 4.5 points and 2.3 rebounds in 28 games off the Zags bench. He only scored in double figures on four occasions this season for head coach Mark Few and played a similar role in 32 games two years ago.
Sallis brings a high upside to Wake Forest as the portal continues to alter the trajectory of programs significantly. The Demon Deacons finished 8th in ACC regular-season play and defeated Syracuse in the second round of the conference tournament in Greensboro.
Ole Miss Transfer Amaree Abram Commits to Georgia Tech, Former GT Forward Cyril Martynov Commits to Eastern Michigan
Georgia Tech has added a former SEC player while a former Yellow Jacket transferred to a mid-major school. Ole Miss transfer Amaree Abram committed to play for new head coach Damon Stoudamire on Wednesday. Only 18 years old, Abram started 22 of 33 games for the Rebels as a freshman and averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game. He scored career-best 26 points facing Stanford on Nov. 24 and was a top 100 recruit out of high school.
Originally from Barrie, Ontario, Martynov was a three-star recruit who originally selected Georgia Tech over Missouri, Wisconsin, and Northwestern. The 7-footer scored only five points in 18 minutes spanning seven total games as a freshman. Eastern Michigan (MAC) closed its conference schedule 5-13.
Northwestern Transfer Robbie Beran Commits to Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech added a grad transfer for its upcoming season. Northwestern transfer Robbie Beran announced his intention to play with the Hokies on Tuesday for his final year of eligibility. The 23-year-old forward from Richmond, Virginia, started all 32 games for the Wildcats and was a consistent force in the starting five throughout his Northwestern career. He started in 100 of the 120 games he appeared in and averaged career highs in points (7.5) and rebounds (4.5) as a senior.
The Hokies closed the regular season as the ACC’s 11th-best team in the conference standings at 8-12 despite a 19-15 overall record. Virginia Tech defeated Pitt (79-72) in its hostile home environment late in the season and upset Virginia on its home floor.
Oklahoma Transfer Jacob Groves Lands at Virginia
Oklahoma transfer Jacob Groves announced his commitment to Virginia this week on social media. During his senior season, the 6-foot-9 forward from Spokane, Washington, scored 6.8 points and grabbed 2.5 rebounds per game in 32 games (22 starts). Groves started 34 of 66 games in two years at Oklahoma after spending two seasons at Eastern Washington. He shot over 43% from the field and 35% behind the arc with the Sooners, scoring 373 total points.
