Johnson’s Big Sky Revival: From UW Star to Viking Comeback
Former Washington standout Koren Johnson, last season’s Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year, has inked a deal with Portland State after stints at Louisville and Ole Miss. At 6-foot-1, Johnson once averaged 11.1 points and 2.7 assists off the UW bench in 2024, but injuries derailed his trajectory. He suffered shoulder setbacks both before suiting up for the Huskies and again early at Louisville, limiting him to just two appearances. His Ole Miss campaign saw him log 9.6 minutes per game, shooting 26.7% overall and 19.4% from deep. Now reunited with former UW teammate-turned-Portland State assistant Jamaal Williams, Johnson hopes to rekindle the form that once produced a 30-point explosion against Stanford and double-figure nights versus USC and Washington State.
Welcome to the Northwest’s latest medical mystery tour! Witness Koren Johnson, the six-foot-one man of steel… or maybe ceramic? After shoulder surgeries that make him sound like an Ikea blueprint, he’s now settling in Portland to test whether his new spike pad can survive Big Sky play. Will Portland State’s doctors have better bedside manners than Louisville’s? Can Johnson’s shoulder remember what “shoot” means? Stay tuned as he attempts to rediscover those sweet 3-point hops—assuming his bionic joint doesn’t decide it’s had enough of college basketball drama. Spoiler alert: Vikings fans are already stocking up on bubble wrap.
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