The 6'10", 215 lb forward/center committed to the Purdue University Boilermakers to play under head coach Matt Painter as part of a top five recruiting class, along with fellow Indiana All-Stars Robbie Hummel, E'Twaun Moore and Scott Martin.
Johnson, along with teammate E'Twaun Moore, entered the 2010 NBA draft, but withdrew and returned to school after scouts projected him as a second-round pick [REF].