Mustangs Add 7-1 Penn-Johnson for 2022-23 Season
5/16/2022 12:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly men's basketball team added height, frontcourt depth and experience to its roster for the upcoming season with announcement that 7-1 center Bryan Penn-Johnson (Long Beach, Calif.) has transferred into the program from two-year East Los Angeles College and, previously, LSU (2020-21) and Washington (2018-20).
Johnson, who intends to major in history, will have two years of eligibility remaining starting with the 2022-23 season.
"Bryan provides added depth in the frontcourt to go alongside (6-6 forward) Alimamy Koroma and experience from having played at the Power 5 level – something our young group needs," fourth-year head coach John Smith said. "Bryan's length and athleticism is an added dimension that hasn't been seen at the Big West Conference level in some time. His ability to change the game on both ends of the floor with a 7-7 wingspan will help bolster our defense and put pressure on the rim in our offensive schemes. He's very cerebral on and off the floor, which fits well with the Cal Poly brand."
Penn-Johnson, who owns a 9-7 standing reach, started in 15 of 29 appearances for East Los Angeles College last season and averaged 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 66.7 (104-for-156) percent from the floor. He scored in double figures nine times, topping out with a career best 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (Jan. 21). He also added 12 rebounds in the matchup to complete a first collegiate double-double.
Penn-Johnson made five appearances at LSU during its 2020-21 NCAA Tournament season after transferring from Washington. With the Huskies program, Penn-Johnson played in 11 total matchups over two years.
As a senior at Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), Penn-Johnson helped the program to a 24-2 record during his 2017-18 senior season and a No. 3 ranking in the state of Utah.
Penn-Johnson is the third member of Cal Poly's incoming class, joining 6-6 graduate small forward Chance Hunter (Inglewood, Calif./California Baptist) and 6-8 freshman power forward Aaron Price, Jr. (Liberty HS/Las Vegas, Nev.).
Johnson, who intends to major in history, will have two years of eligibility remaining starting with the 2022-23 season.
"Bryan provides added depth in the frontcourt to go alongside (6-6 forward) Alimamy Koroma and experience from having played at the Power 5 level – something our young group needs," fourth-year head coach John Smith said. "Bryan's length and athleticism is an added dimension that hasn't been seen at the Big West Conference level in some time. His ability to change the game on both ends of the floor with a 7-7 wingspan will help bolster our defense and put pressure on the rim in our offensive schemes. He's very cerebral on and off the floor, which fits well with the Cal Poly brand."
Penn-Johnson, who owns a 9-7 standing reach, started in 15 of 29 appearances for East Los Angeles College last season and averaged 8.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 66.7 (104-for-156) percent from the floor. He scored in double figures nine times, topping out with a career best 23 points on 10-for-11 shooting at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College (Jan. 21). He also added 12 rebounds in the matchup to complete a first collegiate double-double.
Penn-Johnson made five appearances at LSU during its 2020-21 NCAA Tournament season after transferring from Washington. With the Huskies program, Penn-Johnson played in 11 total matchups over two years.
As a senior at Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), Penn-Johnson helped the program to a 24-2 record during his 2017-18 senior season and a No. 3 ranking in the state of Utah.
Penn-Johnson is the third member of Cal Poly's incoming class, joining 6-6 graduate small forward Chance Hunter (Inglewood, Calif./California Baptist) and 6-8 freshman power forward Aaron Price, Jr. (Liberty HS/Las Vegas, Nev.).
Players Mentioned
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