Indiana Gains Much-Needed Clarity With Xavier Johnson’s Return

Indiana’s hopes of contending at the top of the Big Ten in the 2023-24 season got a boost Wednesday when the school announced point guard Xavier Johnson had received a medical hardship waiver that will allow him to return for one more season with the Hoosiers.

Johnson, the team’s starting point guard in all 45 games he has played at Indiana, suffered a season-ending foot fracture in the first half of a December 17 road game at Kansas. Because the injury didn’t occur until the 11th game of the season, there was some uncertainty based on NCAA rules as to whether Johnson’s waiver would be approved. But ultimately, Johnson was officially cleared to return for a sixth season of college basketball, the school announced in a press release.

"We are very happy for Xavier and his family and can't wait to have him be a key member of our program next season," Indiana coach Mike Woodson said. "I know this year was challenging for him, but he brought a positive attitude every day and I believe he will bring a great deal to our team next season because of the adversity he has faced."

Johnson’s return is significant for an Indiana team set to sustain heavy losses from its 2022–23 roster. Star center Trayce Jackson-Davis, who averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this past season, is headed to the professional ranks, as is talented young guard Jalen Hood-Schifino and role players like wing Miller Kopp and forward Race Thompson. Giving Indiana a proven, veteran leader in Johnson at the point guard spot will help with this spring’s substantial roster transition.

At his best, Johnson is one of the top point guards in the Big Ten. After struggling early in the 2021–22 season, Johnson was a catalyst for the Hoosiers’ run to the NCAA tournament. In the final 10 games of that campaign, Johnson averaged 16.6 points and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 46% from three. He then averaged close to 10 points and 5 assists per game this past year before that season-ending foot injury.

Indiana made a splash in the transfer portal this spring by adding former five-star center Kel’el Ware, who transferred in from Oregon. Ware averaged 6.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in an uneven freshman season for the Ducks, but he possesses NBA tools thanks to his elite athleticism and mobility as a 7-footer. Ware also fits incredibly well with Johnson in pick-and-roll situations, with the guard’s passing ability setting up Ware as a lob threat. Indiana also added another frontcourt option in Ball State transfer Payton Sparks, who averaged over 13 points and 8 rebounds per game this past season.

Getting this news now is also critical for Indiana, as it provides the Hoosiers much-needed clarity as big names dwindle in the transfer portal. Had the waiver process for Johnson taken much longer, Indiana would have been left scrambling for a point guard late in the cycle had his waiver been declined.

Now, with Johnson’s place in the rotation solidified alongside veteran shooting guard Trey Galloway, the Hoosiers can attack the portal to fill the team’s final three open scholarships for the 2023–24 season. A healthy Johnson can be a central piece of a top-five team in what is shaping up to be a strong Big Ten next season, a league that had four teams ranked in Sports Illustrated’s way-too-early top 25 released in early April.