UCLA roster overhaul draws Johnson, Clark

Mick Cronin’s offseason roster overhaul landed UCLA two potential starters in its early stages.

USC small forward Kobe Johnson announced on social media Thursday that he was committed to the Bruins less than a day after Louisville combo guard Skyy Clark delivered the same message.

Johnson is the first basketball player to make the move across town in recent memory; until recently, players had to sit out two seasons as part of intra-conference transfers. A two-time member of the Pac-12’s all-defensive team, Johnson has put his name in the NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He’s widely expected to return for his final college season. Johnson averaged 10.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a junior with the Trojans.

After leading Louisville in scoring last season, the 6-foot-3 Clark could push for a starting role alongside point guard Dylan Andrews as part of what he hopes will be a happy homecoming.

A gifted shooter who could also help Andrews with ball-handling duties, Clark made 35.3% of his three-pointers last season while averaging 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists.

After starring for Heritage Christian in Northridge as a sophomore and spending his final two high school seasons in Tennessee and Florida, Clark spent his freshman college season at Illinois before leaving the team for personal reasons and entering the transfer portal after the season.

Also, UCLA sophomore shooting guard Will McClendon also entered the transfer portal Thursday, freeing another scholarship.

— Ben Bolch and Thuc Nhi Nguyen

Dawn Staley was honored as the Associated Press women’s college basketball Coach of the Year for the second time. She received 27 votes from the 35-member national media panel that votes on the AP Top 25 each week. She also won the award in 2020. Caitlin Clark, the star guard from Iowa, was honored as the AP Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Clark received 35 votes from the 36-member national media panel that votes on the Top 25 each week . ... Chattanooga hired Deandra Schirmer as women’s basketball coach. Schirmer led Valdosta State to four straight NCAA Division II tournament berths.