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Arizona lands SDSU transfer forward Keshad Johnson

Troy Hutchison • GOAZCATS
Staff Writer
@THutch1995
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The additions keep rolling in for Arizona and coach Tommy Lloyd this week with San Diego State transfer forward Keshad Johnson announcing his commitment to the Wildcats on Instagram on Saturday,

With the addition of Johnson, Arizona has now added three players to the 2023 roster this week after getting two commitments in Lithuanian standouts Motiejus Krivas and Paulius Murauskas. Overall during the off-season, the Wildcats have five new players to the roster in recruit KJ Lewis and Alabama transfer Jaden Bradley.

“Keshad brings a lot of experience and versatility to our team from the start,” Lloyd said in a statement provided by the program. “He scored 14 points in the national championship game last season and was able to impact the game at both ends of the floor, something that is extremely valuable to any team. His leadership and commitment to the team contribute to winning at a high level. We couldn’t be more excited that Keshad and his family are part of our family.”

Johnson is a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward, who has spent the last four seasons playing for the Aztecs were he averaged 5.8 points and 4 rebounds while shooting 51% from the field during his 18 minutes played per game.

Although the offensive numbers don't jump out at you with only 13 games in double figures during the 2022-23 season, the defensive side of the ball is what Johnson is known for and where he makes his presence felt. His defense was a critical piece of the Aztecs' run to the National Title game as part of one of the nation's top defensive units that finish in the Top 10 in defensive efficiency.

With Arizona landing the SDSU transfer, the starting lineup for the Wildcats seems to be taking shape. Right now, the projected lineup would be Kylan Boswell and Bradley at the guard positions, Pelle Larson and Johnson at the forward positions and Oumar Ballo at center.

Although that projected for Arizona doesn't look as offensively effective as the 2022-23 season, I do believe this would be one of the top defensive lineups in all of college hoops. Plus, Johnson is really good at running the floor and finishing at the rim, which is a prefect fit for Lloyd's up-tempo system.

Yes, Johnson has his offensive limitations. However, he will bring a toughness and defensive presence on the court that Arizona hasn't had in quite some time with his size and length.

To me, a couple NBA players come to mind when think of Johnson's style of play and those players are Anthony Manson, who was a defensive menace and Shawn Marion, who was not only a player that could guard 1-5 on a court, but was also great in transition offense.

From an Arizona perspective, I think Johnson is defensively comparable to Michael Wright. Yes, Wright had a good offensive game that he doesn't have, but in terms of defense, the two a very similar on that side of the court.

Arizona fans asked to see the team get tougher during the off-season and Lloyd has answered the call with the addition of Bradley and now a defensive menace in Johnson.

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