Tarleton State star guard, college basketball's second leading scorer entering transfer portal

High major college basketball programs that aren’t currently competing in the NCAA Tournament should have their antennas up as players announce their plans to enter the transfer portal. 

There will be plenty of low and mid-major standout contributors hoping to play at the highest level of college basketball moving forward. A Tarleton State star guard who is the nation’s second-leading scorer is one of them, as it was recently revealed that he plans to enter the transfer portal.

“NEWS: Tarleton State guard Dior Johnson plans to enter the transfer portal,” On3’s Joe Tipton reported on X/Twitter Monday.
”The 6-foot-3 junior averaged 24.0 points per game in 26 minutes and was the second leading scorer in college basketball this season.”

Coming out of high school, Johnson was a four-star recruit who initially committed to Syracuse but later decommitted. Johnson then committed to Oregon, but, again, the Kingston, New York native later backed out. 

Although Johnson ultimately began his career with Pittsburgh, the university announced he was no longer enrolled shortly before the start of the 2022-23 season. After spending one season at Clarendon College and one with UCF, Johnson found himself spending the 2025-26 campaign with Tarleton State. 

Thanks to former head coach Billy Gillispie giving Johnson the offensive freedom many players crave, the talented 6-foot-3 point guard was surgical for the Texans when healthy. 

There’s no question that Johnson’s patented mid-range game, high-level three-point shooting when the opportunities present themselves (53.8% three-point shooting percentage on 52 attempts), and elite change of pace at different spots on the floor would be beneficial to a high-major program. 

Needless to say, Johnson should be a hot commodity on the transfer market.

More college basketball: Kentucky guard entering transfer portal after disappointing season with Wildcats