North Carolina forward Cameron Johnson underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his hip Monday and will return to the team in 2018-19, UNC has announced. The procedure was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chris Larson in Minneapolis.
Johnson has been uncertain about whether he would return to the Tar Heels for his final year of college eligibility. But the wording of the statement announcing his surgery, which says he is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of 2018-19, indicates that he will be back next season.
His father, Gilbert Johnson, confirmed his son’s return to Tar Heel Illustrated on Wednesday.
Johnson originally injured the hip last summer, shortly after transferring to UNC from Pittsburgh. He also suffered a knee injury that limited him to 26 games.
He started 20 games, ranking third on the team in both scoring at 12.4 points and rebounding at 4.7 per game. Johnson made 47 3-pointers and scored in double figures 19 times in his first season as a Tar Heel while making 84.7 percent of his free-throw attempts.
Johnson will be one of three starters returning for UNC in 2018-19, joining rising seniors Luke Maye and Kenny Williams in the lineup.
