Chris Johnson gives NIU a rugged rebounder with blue-collar bite
Chris Johnson brings Northern Illinois a classic paint-first forward profile: in the 2018-19 junior-college season before joining NIU, he averaged 9.7 points and 14.5 rebounds per game and led NJCAA Division II in rebounding, a stat line that screams hustle, positioning, and physicality.[2] At NIU, his value has been tied more to toughness, screening, and second-effort work than high-volume scoring, making him the kind of low-ego frontcourt piece coaches love when they need boards, effort, and glue-guy energy.[1][6]
