A onetime star high school basketball player in metro Atlanta, Noel Johnson has parted ways with Clemson, but under peaceful circumstances.
Johnson, ranked in the top 50 nationally by independent scout evaluators when he graduated from Fayette County High two years ago, cited dwindling playing time as the reason for his departure.
Johnson will take classes at Atlanta Metropolitan College for the next term while deciding on his next college program.
"He's going to step away from the game and be [just] a student for three months," said his father, Lynbert "Cheese" Johnson, a former NBA player.
The 6-foot-7 Johnson first committed to USC, but was granted a release when coach Tim Floyd resigned under pressure after NCAA violations in his program surfaced.
As a freshman at Clemson, Johnson logged about 15 minutes per game, averaging slightly under five points. He anticipated hikes in both this season, but his early numbers dipped to 13 minutes and three points.
The elder Johnson said the "very boring" motion offense favored by first-year coach Brad Brownell was an ill fit for Noel.
"The style of play wasn't for his benefit," said Johnson, whose son was recruited by coach Oliver Purnell, since departed to DePaul. "He needs to be in an up-and-down, transition type of game. They are more of a walk-it-up type of team."
Johnson's minutes also shrunk in part because of tepid defensive play. Still, the school would have preferred that he stay.
While expressing no regrets over withdrawing from the USC commitment, Johnson's father observed that the Trojans' offensive philosophy is more suited to Noel's abilities.
"Life is not always peaches and cream," Cheese Johnson said. "It was time to move on."
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