Louisville Signs G League Guard London Johnson for 2026 Season

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The University of Louisville basketball team has secured a commitment from London Johnson, a 21-year-old point guard from the G League‘s Cleveland Charge. Johnson is expected to enroll at U of L in December and will be eligible to play for the 2026-27 season.

Johnson, who has spent three seasons in the G League, was a four-star recruit out of high school in 2022 but opted to turn professional instead. He originally signed a two-year deal with the NBA’s G League Ignite, where he averaged 10.5 points and 3.0 assists in his first year and 10.6 points with 4.9 assists in his second season.

After not declaring for the 2024 NBA Draft, Johnson was selected by the Maine Celtics with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 G League Draft. However, he averaged just 2.3 points in three games with the Celtics before being acquired by the Cleveland Charge, where he played 18 games, averaging 3.3 points.

Johnson’s commitment comes on the heels of the NCAA‘s recent eligibility ruling for former G League Ignite player Thierry Darlan, who is now playing at Santa Clara. This ruling allows G League players to return to collegiate basketball after playing professionally.

At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, Johnson has experience in both high school and international competitions, previously leading his Norcross, Georgia, team to a state championship. He also represented Jamaica in the 2021 FIBA CentroBasket U17 Championship.

Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey hopes to benefit from Johnson’s professional experience, viewing him as a potential fit for a backup point guard role. Johnson becomes the first commitment for the Louisville Cardinals in the 2026 class.