Jordan Johnson goes to UNLV, reunited with Rob Jeter

Posted on by

UNLV men’s basketball team has added top UWM player Jordan Johnson to its upcoming season Wednesday night making him the third player from the UWM men’s basketball team to transfer and commit to another team as a result of coach Rob Jeter’s firing.

In an interview with Media Milwaukee on Wednesday night, Johnson said, “I’m excited to be a rebel; I can’t wait. I will like to thank the head coach and Jeter. But being back with Jeter is cool because we had a great relationship, and I know he is someone I can talk to about everything and anything – I know he has my back. He (is) just a good person, and I came here to play for him and being back with him and (UNLV) coach (Marvin) Menzies. I know he will do the same. And wishing nothing changed because I was loving the school and the city and making relationships with people I would never forget.”

Johnson made it clear whom he blamed for the dramatic changes to UWM men’s basketball: “This team was so close, and that’s what I loved the most and for Amanda to mess all that up. I wished that wouldn’t have happened.”
Jeter was hired by UNLV as the assistant coach on May 5 after being ousted by Athletic Director Amanda Braun, who has said she made the move because of the team’s performance, which others hotly dispute. Johnson confirmed the commitment and changed his background to the school’s logo on Twitter around 6 p.m., thanking supporters and expressing excitement, as did Rob Jeter.

“I am wishing all of my teammates nothing but success and wish them well,” said Matt Tiby, former teammate. “They will be a great addition where they are headed.”

When UNLV announced Jeter’s hiring, the university praised his recruiting abilities. However, one of his first big recruits turns out to be from his former team, UWM.

UWM PR photo of Jordan Johnson.
UWM PR photo of Jordan Johnson.

Johnson will be considered a “red shirt” player. According to NCAA rules, if a player is not a graduate transfer, he has to sit for a full year. After that season, he will have one year left to play on the court under head coach Marvin Menzies, but will remain alongside Jeter (assistant coach).

Johnson was considered one of the top players at UWM as he made school history being the fourth player ever to obtain a triple double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He achieved the historic accomplishment against Youngstown State University and helped the team win the close game (the game where then radio announcer Bill Johnson was suspended after making a racial joke against the opponent; Johnson, of course, resigned in an Instagram blast that was harshly critical of the UWM Athletic Department and Athletic Director Amanda Braun, who fired Jeter).

“It’s amazing to see a 5-9 guy do some of the things that Jordan does,” said coach Jeter to reporters after the Youngstown game. “I am real proud of the triple-double that’s hard to do.”

Before UWM, Johnson played two seasons at John Wood Community College. He was NJCAA First Team All-America in 2014-15 after leading the team to NJCAA Division II national championship game. He recorded a triple-double with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Neosho.

Jordan Johnson's Twitter page had a UNLV background.
Jordan Johnson’s Twitter page had a UNLV background.

Back in his native home, Waukegan, Illinois, he played with Akeem Springs, another player who requested release from their scholarship after Jeter’s firing. He recently committed to the University of Minnesota.

UWM senior associate Athletic Director Bill Behrns told Media Milwaukee: “Based on what he posted on Twitter tonight, Jordan plans to transfer to UNLV. We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

On Wednesday night, Jordan was fielding congratulations on Twitter: