Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Baylor on October 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. (MST)
M Basketball
2 p.m. (MST)
at Baylor
.png&width=100&type=webp)
Grand Canyon University Athletics
Insider: Johnson to play this year
10/8/2018 12:44:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Paul Coro, Lopes Insider Blog
NCAA rules Washington transfer can join GCU for 2018-19
The NCAA ruled that Grand Canyon junior guard Carlos Johnson will be eligible to play this season.
Johnson, who transferred this summer from Washington, will enjoy joining his former Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School teammate, J.J. Rhymes, and his former club teammates, Oscar Frayer and Damari Milstead, for the next two GCU seasons. In turn, the Lopes will enjoy how Johnson's aggressive style and athletic ability can make them a better team.
"First off, I'm happy for him and his family," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "Carlos is a good kid so for him to be eligible to play is big for him and his mom.
"Secondly, he gives us another piece. He's a hard-nosed, tough kid who is very competitive. He gives us a guy who can really score the basketball. He's good at taking the ball downhill and he has shot it a lot better than I expected. He's a tough competitor and that's what I like."
Johnson averaged 5.9 points and 3.0 rebounds as a freshman under former Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound guard continued to earn favor as a hard worker as a sophomore but his playing time decreased last season for new Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins, who granted a scholarship release and commended Johnson as "an integral part of our program while also showing excellent leadership."
On GCU's Bahamas trip in August, Johnson led the team in scoring by tallying 34 points in 21 minutes over two games.
"It means a lot to play with my friends and in front of the Lopes fans and have a good time getting back to what I love," Johnson said. "I felt the love in high school in Phoenix and it's crazy because I'm feeling all the love all over again here, just at a different level."
Majerle said Johnson could start on a wing opposite Frayer, allowing guard Tim Finke to come off the bench for his freshman season.
"Carlos can handle the ball and take it to the basket more than Oscar, who is more of a jump shooter with one or two dribbles," Majerle said. "Carlos is a high-level guy who can take it to the basket and use his strength to post up. He has a lot of the same strengths that Josh (Braun) did as far as strength in the post and being able to score the basketball."
Johnson grew up in Phoenix playing on teams with Rhymes for five years, including Shadow Mountain's 2014 state championship team. Even Johnson's best game for Washington was Arizona-related. He posted 19 points and 12 rebounds against Arizona State in 2017.
"I feel like I fit in pretty good," Johnson said of GCU, the first program that offered him a scholarship in his high school days. "If I just go out there and execute what Coach Majerle tells me to do, it'll only be success for the team and me. Me being a very aggressive player on offense and defense will help open up a lot of other guys and only do good things for us."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Johnson, who transferred this summer from Washington, will enjoy joining his former Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School teammate, J.J. Rhymes, and his former club teammates, Oscar Frayer and Damari Milstead, for the next two GCU seasons. In turn, the Lopes will enjoy how Johnson's aggressive style and athletic ability can make them a better team.
"First off, I'm happy for him and his family," GCU head coach Dan Majerle said. "Carlos is a good kid so for him to be eligible to play is big for him and his mom.
"Secondly, he gives us another piece. He's a hard-nosed, tough kid who is very competitive. He gives us a guy who can really score the basketball. He's good at taking the ball downhill and he has shot it a lot better than I expected. He's a tough competitor and that's what I like."
Johnson averaged 5.9 points and 3.0 rebounds as a freshman under former Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound guard continued to earn favor as a hard worker as a sophomore but his playing time decreased last season for new Huskies head coach Mike Hopkins, who granted a scholarship release and commended Johnson as "an integral part of our program while also showing excellent leadership."
On GCU's Bahamas trip in August, Johnson led the team in scoring by tallying 34 points in 21 minutes over two games.
"It means a lot to play with my friends and in front of the Lopes fans and have a good time getting back to what I love," Johnson said. "I felt the love in high school in Phoenix and it's crazy because I'm feeling all the love all over again here, just at a different level."
Majerle said Johnson could start on a wing opposite Frayer, allowing guard Tim Finke to come off the bench for his freshman season.
"Carlos can handle the ball and take it to the basket more than Oscar, who is more of a jump shooter with one or two dribbles," Majerle said. "Carlos is a high-level guy who can take it to the basket and use his strength to post up. He has a lot of the same strengths that Josh (Braun) did as far as strength in the post and being able to score the basketball."
Johnson grew up in Phoenix playing on teams with Rhymes for five years, including Shadow Mountain's 2014 state championship team. Even Johnson's best game for Washington was Arizona-related. He posted 19 points and 12 rebounds against Arizona State in 2017.
"I feel like I fit in pretty good," Johnson said of GCU, the first program that offered him a scholarship in his high school days. "If I just go out there and execute what Coach Majerle tells me to do, it'll only be success for the team and me. Me being a very aggressive player on offense and defense will help open up a lot of other guys and only do good things for us."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMakaih Williams | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Dusty Stromer | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Kaleb Smith | Media Availability | 9.3.25
Thursday, September 04
Non-Conference Schedule Release | Men's Basketball
Monday, August 04