Drew breaks down the addition of Bowling Green transfer Marcus Johnson to the basketball roster.
Kansas State basketball added a significant piece to the 2025-’26 roster when Bowling Green transfer Marcus Johnson announced his commitment to Jerome Tang and the Wildcats on May 21st.
Johnson is a 6’7”, 265-pound wing originally from Akron, Ohio (St. Vincent-St. Mary). After leading Lebron’s former high school team St. Vincent-St.Mary to back-to-back state championships, he matriculated to West Virginia but did not play for the Mountaineers. Instead, he suited up for Division II Wheeling College in West Virginia. He was dominant at Wheeling, scoring over 1,000 points in his career, including averaging 21.6 points a game in 2023-24. He entered the portal after the 23-’24 season and ended up in the thriving metropolis of Bowling Green, Kentucky.
In his only season at Bowling Green (2024-’25), he averaged roughly 16 points, two assists, and five rebounds a game on 43% shooting from the field, 39% from three, and 90% from the free throw line. Johnson was third in the MAC in points (519), fifth in 3-point field goals made (78), and third in field goal attempts (421). Johnson joins fellow transfers Nate Johnson (Akron), Abdi Baskir Jr. (Monmouth), and Khamari McGriff (UNC-Wilmington) in Manhattan for the upcoming season.
Marcus Johnson: Bucket Getter
There is no question what Johnson brings to the table for Coach Tang and the ‘Cats; he’s a bucket getter.
Don’t be fooled by his hefty frame; Johnson is first and foremost a wing. You’ll see him start most possessions behind the 3-point line instead of on the block. Shooting is the name of the game for Bowling Green transfer. Last season, he attempted 188 shots from behind the arc and hit 70, good for 37% on the year. He is fantastic in the catch-and-shoot game from outside the arc where at 6’7”, his quick trigger and high release allow him to take make/miss 3’s without much concern for the closeout.
While his ability to hit perimeter shots is the strength of his game, he’s far from one-dimensional on offense. Even though he doesn’t often start on the block, he ends up on the block frequently. He doesn’t hesitate to back down smaller defenders and has a post-game every old man wearing knee pads at the YMCA would be proud of. He has a big frame, long arms, and surprisingly nimble feet for a man of his stature. If you’re into scoop and hook shots, you’ll love Marcus. Beyond that, most wings have no idea how to guard a 265-pound skilled finisher in the paint. If they foul him, they put a 90% shooter on the line. If they double, he is adept at hitting cutters for easy buckets. Johnson is a bit of a matchup nightmare for a skinny wing.
Scoring is his strength, but don’t sleep on his passing ability. His long arms allow him to deliver passes at strange angles. He has an old man assist game to go with his old man post-game. When he starts backing down smaller wings, he won’t hesitate to feed a cutter for an easy layup. He sees the game well and uses size to his advantage as a scorer and passer.
Needs Improvement – Defense and Rebounding
Johnson has quick feet for someone his size, but that doesn’t mean he has quick feet compared to other wings. That’s the trade-off with Marcus. He can get you buckets on offense, but he will take some on defense. He’s not the guy you want matched up with the other team’s star wing. He’s a skilled basketball player, but no one will accuse him of being a top-level athlete. If he were more athletic, his skill set would have landed him at the D-1 level sooner, because he’s got a ridiculous bag on offense.
He’s not terrible at rebounding, but he is very much a positional rebounder who stays in his own area. He won’t get you much on the offensive glass, and he’ll give up a few rebounds by getting outjumped. It’s not a deal breaker; he’s good enough to function but might struggle on the glass against some of the more athletic teams in the Big 12.
Overall
Even with some defensive and athletic limitations, Johnson’s high skill level and ability to both score and facilitate will be a useful addition to the 2025 roster. I see him as instant offense off the bench. Coach Tang can deploy him when he likes a matchup or when the team hits one of their patented offensive droughts. It’s tough to continue an offensive drought with Marcus on the floor; he’ll find a way to put the ball in the basket.
I like this addition to the roster. If nothing else, he’s a fun player to watch if you enjoy old-school fundamental basketball.