Reports: Texas Longhorns basketball player Chris Johnson entering transfer portal

Texas freshman basketball player Chris Johnson, a prized pickup from Kansas last season, will reportedly enter his name into the transfer portal, according to multiple reports.

Texas officials could not confirm the news Tuesday afternoon, but the departure of Johnson would sting more than the other two portal losses this spring, which include seldom-used forward Amex Anamewke and reserve guard Gavin Perryman.

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Johnson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Missouri City, Texas, was a 4-star recruit in the 2023 class. He originally signed with Kansas but was released from his letter of intent last summer and joined the Texas program. He saw action in 10 nonconference games this season but only played 12 minutes in Big 12 competition.

After Texas’ loss to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last month in Charlotte, N.C., Johnson told reporters he planned to stay at Texas.

Johnson is the sixth player to leave Texas this offseason, joining the two transfers and graduates Dylan Disu, Max Abmas, Brock Cunningham and Ithiel Horton.

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The portal opened March 18. Texas has yet to sign any transfers but has offered several players, according to multiple reports. Texas coach Rodney Terry said after his team’s loss to Tennessee that his staff is working on rebuilding the squad for the 2024-25 season.

“There's a date and time with the landscape of college athletics,” Terry said. “We’re just going to try and put together another roster for next season.”