UConn’s all-time winningest player and a two-time national champion, Samson Johnson signed with the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers shortly after the NBA Draft concluded on Thursday night.

Johnson reportedly signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pacers, according to the IndyStar, which is a one-year, non-guaranteed minimum deal and likely means he will be on the Summer League roster and, potentially, join the Noblesville Boom in the G League. The Pacers also signed Creighton point guard Steven Ashworth and East Carolina guard RJ Felton to Exhibit 10 deals.

An athletic, high-flying 6-foot-10 big, Johnson played limited minutes with the Huskies as a freshman and as a sophomore, when he went down with a foot injury in the season-opener. He became the Huskies’ second-string center in a two-headed monster combination behind Donovan Clingan during the team’s second-consecutive national championship run, and took over the starting center role last season. Johnson played in 34 games last season, averaging 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 19.3 minutes per game.

He played his best basketball down the stretch of the season, notably scoring 14 points (6 of 7 shooting) with six rebounds and three blocks on his senior day, putting on a show in front of his parents, who surprised him by flying in from their home in Lome, Togo. It was the first time his parents attended a UConn basketball game, and the first time his mother ever saw him play live.

“We’ve had some incredible human beings, and he’s the best human being we’ve had in this program. So it was awesome to see him play like that in front of his family and to have that moment,” UConn coach Dan Hurley said after that game.

Johnson had one of the best games in his career as he scored 10 points with 10 rebounds, a block and a steal during UConn’s thrilling loss to eventual national champion Florida in the second round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

“He’s like one of the best human beings you’ll ever come across, humility, work ethic, just being about team and just a sweetheart of a guy who just has worked his tail off. He’s waited his turn and he’s pushed hard,” Hurley said, getting emotional before that senior day game. “He’s just as good a human being as you’ll ever come across in sports, outside of sports. He’s the most beloved guy that we’ve probably had here since we’ve been here.”

Johnson enters the NBA along with Liam McNeeley, the 29th overall draft selection of the Charlotte Hornets and the program’s 24th first round pick.