BLETCHLEY, England (August 29, 2024) – Former University of North Alabama standout
KJ Johnson is heading across the pond, as Johnson signed a professional basketball contract with the Milton Keynes Breakers Basketball Club in England on Thursday.
Johnson is the third UNA Men's Basketball graduate to sign a professional contract this summer, joining former teammates
Damian Forrest and
Tim Smith Jr. who both signed pro contracts in Germany.
Johnson played in 29 games last season with 26 starts, averaging 14.1 points per game to rank second on the team. The Lewisburg, Tenn. native is the 30th leading scorer in Atlantic Sun Conference history with 1,649 career points. He was named ASUN Player of the Week on Jan. 29 with 25.5 points per game in wins over Kennesaw State and Queens.
"I'm really excited to start a new journey transitioning to the professional basketball world," said Johnson. "As a kid, you grow up dreaming to play pro ball, so it's really surreal and exciting that I get that chance. It's truly a blessing, and I thank everyone from the UNA family that welcomed me when I first came in and allowed me to feel at home."
The MK Breakers were founded in 2017 and entered the National Basketball League in 2022. In the 2023-24 Senior Men's National Cup, Milton Keynes became the first non-division 1 team to win the competition in over 50 years.
"We are thrilled for KJ on his accomplishment for continuing his basketball career with the MK Breakers," said UNA head men's basketball coach
Tony Pujol. "He has worked tirelessly his two years here to leave a lasting impact on our program and the North Alabama community. His hard work has prepared him for this opportunity. We are proud to have another Lion continuing their basketball career in the professional ranks."
Johnson spent two seasons at UNA and left a lasting impression on and off the court. Not only did he average double figures his entire two seasons, but Johnson was also responsible for three of the most impactful moments in the UNA Division I era.
In 2022, Johnson hit the game winning shot with 15 seconds left as the Lions defeated Ole Miss 66-65 for the first win over a Power Four opponent in program history. In 2023, Johnson sank a basket with 1.9 seconds left to defeat in-state rival Jacksonville State by a 61-59 final at CB&S Bank Arena.
The third moment caught the attention of the entire world, as Johnson hit a running floater at the buzzer against Lipscomb in the ASUN Quarterfinal Round to eliminate his former school. This shot made the rounds on all major media platforms as ESPN SportsCenter's No. 1 Play, Scott Van Pelt's "Best Thing I Saw Today" and on the NCAA March Madness social media accounts, among others.
Johnson debuts with the Breakers at home on Saturday, Sept. 7 in a preseason friendly against the Essex Rebels at Bletchley Leisure Centre.
"Credit to all the coaches, especially Coach Pujol," added Johnson. "I had a dream when I first committed to UNA and he promised me he would get me here. I can't thank him enough. Also, a big thanks to Coach (Austin) Burnette as he was big in helping me find an agency and sticking with me through the process with advice and staying in the gym with me. I can go on-and-on about everyone who helped me along the way at UNA, and I'm blessed to have been a part of it all."
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