BIRMINGHAM – UAB head men’s basketball coach Andy Kennedy has announced the additions of Jamal Johnson, KJ Buffen and Tyreke Locure to the roster.
JAMAL JOHNSON:
Johnson, a Birmingham native who began his career at Memphis, returns home after playing the last two years at Auburn. The 6-4 guard averaged 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while appearing in all 27 of the Tigers’ games this past season. Johnson finished third in the SEC games with 2.4 3-pointers per game.
He scored a career-high 21 points against Arkansas and followed that with a 20-point effort versus Texas A&M – both off the bench. This marked the first time in 15 years an Auburn player had two consecutive 20-point games coming off the bench.
Filling in at point guard for an injured Sharife Cooper, Johnson recorded 14 points against Tennessee. He followed that by dishing out a career-high seven assists against Alabama.
Johnson, who played at Spain Park High School, is the son of former First Round NBA draft pick Buck Johnson.
“We are excited to be able to bring Jamal back home to Birmingham to complete his collegiate career,” Kennedy said. “He has displayed the ability to impact the game by knocking down perimeter shots, as well as creating scoring opportunities for his teammates with his size and court vision. Our team last season struggled from behind the 3-point line so Jamal’s proven shooting prowess is a huge addition to our backcourt.”
KJ BUFFEN:
Buffen comes to UAB after playing the past three seasons at Ole Miss.
The 6-7 forward from Gainesville, Ga. is coming off a 2020-21 season where he started 21 of his 26 games while averaging 8.4 points per contest. He recorded a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds in the Rebels’ victory over Kentucky on March 2. As a sophomore, Buffen led the team in rebounds with 6.1 per game.
“KJ Buffen brings valuable athleticism and versatility to our front court,” Kennedy said. “We love his motor and his ability to impact the game on both ends of the court. His three years of experience in the SEC puts him in a tremendous position to make an immediate impact in our program.”
TYREKE LOCURE:
Locure comes to UAB after playing his freshman and sophomore season at South Alabama. His 13.5 points per game was seventh in the Sun Belt Conference. He scored in double-figures in 19 contests, including his career-high of 22 points against Flagler.
He recorded 53 steals in 26 games, USA’s 11th best single-season performance. He tallied a pair of six-steal games against Mobile and Coastal Carolina and his 55 3-pointers were the fourth-most for a Jaguar sophomore in a single-season.
“Tyreke brings game changing speed and playmaking ability to our backcourt,” Kennedy said. “With his ability to score from 3-point range and to break down the defense off the dribble, ‘Reke can help us in a variety of ways. His 53 steals last season also shows how disruptive he can be on the defensive end.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
Men’s basketball season tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale now. Current basketball season ticket holders can click here to renew their original 2020-21 seat locations prior to social distancing adjustments. Click here to purchase new 2021-22 season which start as low as $100 with the Blaze’s Corner season ticket.
Fans interested in season tickets can fill out the season ticket request form or contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 to receive additional information.
For more information on the UAB men’s basketball team, follow @UAB_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
