Puff Johnson is a name that has been making headlines in the college basketball world lately. The sophomore guard for the North Carolina Tar Heels has been a key contributor off the bench for his team, helping them reach the Final Four of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. But who is Puff Johnson and how is he related to Cam Johnson, the sharpshooting forward for the Phoenix Suns? Here is the story of two basketball brothers who share more than just a surname.
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Puff Johnson’s Nickname and Background
Puff Johnson’s real name is Donovan Johnson, but he has been going by Puff since he was a baby. According to Sporting News, his nickname came from his mother, Amy, who thought he looked like a puff of smoke when he was born. Puff grew up in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, where he played basketball at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School. He was a four-star recruit and ranked 60th overall in the ESPN 100 for 2020.
Puff transferred to Hillcrest Prep in Gilbert, Arizona, for his senior year of high school, where he averaged 24.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. He committed to play for North Carolina in November 2019, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Cameron Johnson.
Cam Johnson’s Career and Connection to Puff
Cam Johnson is Puff’s older brother by six years. He also played basketball at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School, where he was a three-star recruit and ranked 224th in his class by 247Sports.com¹. He started his college career at Pittsburgh, where he played for three seasons (including a redshirt year) before transferring to North Carolina as a graduate student in 2017.
At North Carolina, Cam became a starter and a star, averaging 16.9 points and 5.8 rebounds per game while shooting 45.7 percent from three-point range in his two seasons with the Tar Heels. He helped UNC win the ACC regular-season title in 2019 and reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He was drafted by the Phoenix Suns with the 11th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Cam has been one of the Suns’ best shooters and scorers, averaging 13.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc in his three seasons in Phoenix. He helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals in 2021, where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. He has also been a supportive and proud brother of Puff, cheering him on from afar as he plays for their alma mater.
Puff Johnson’s Breakout Performance in the Final Four
Puff Johnson has had a limited role in his first two seasons at North Carolina, mainly due to injuries. He missed most of his freshman year with a toe injury and part of his sophomore year with a hip injury. However, he returned to action in January 2022 and carved out a niche as a spark plug off the bench for the Tar Heels.
Puff has averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.1 minutes per game this season, but he has shown flashes of his potential in some big games. He scored 11 points against Marquette in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, hitting three three-pointers. He also had four points and four rebounds against Duke in the Final Four, helping UNC win 77-74 and advance to the national championship game.
Puff saved his best performance for last, scoring a career-high 18 points on six three-pointers against Kansas in the title game on Monday night. He came off the bench and provided a huge lift for UNC, who trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half. Puff hit four triples in a span of five minutes to spark a comeback for the Tar Heels, who took their first lead with under four minutes left in the game. Puff added two more clutch threes in the final minute to seal the victory for UNC, who won their seventh national title with an 81-78 win over Kansas.
Puff was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, joining his brother Cam as one of only four players in UNC history to make six or more three-pointers in an NCAA Tournament game. He also became one of only three players to make six or more threes off the bench in a title game, joining Florida’s Lee Humphrey (2006) and Villanova’s Donte DiVincenzo (2018).
The Johnson Brothers’ Legacy and Future
Puff Johnson and Cam Johnson have made history as the first pair of brothers to play for North Carolina and win a national championship. They have also become one of the most successful sibling duos in college basketball and NBA history, joining the likes of Stephen and Seth Curry, Tyler and Ben Hansbrough, and Brook and Robin Lopez.
Puff and Cam have a close bond and a friendly rivalry, as they both push each other to be better players and people. They have also inspired their younger brothers, Braylon and Bryce, who are also basketball players. Braylon is a freshman at Hillcrest Prep, while Bryce is a seventh-grader.
Puff and Cam have bright futures ahead of them, as they both have the talent and the work ethic to succeed at the highest level. Puff will likely return to North Carolina for his junior year, where he will have a chance to be a leader and a star for the Tar Heels. Cam will continue to be a key piece for the Suns, who are favorites to win the NBA title this year.
Puff Johnson and Cam Johnson are more than just brothers. They are basketball brothers who share a passion, a dream, and a legacy. They are proof that hard work pays off and that family is everything. They are Puff and Cam Johnson, the story of two basketball brothers.
