SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WKTV) - After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, heavily-hyped junior forward Wesley Johnson is eligible and champing at the bit to make his Syracuse debut.

Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 205-pound Texas native, transferred from Iowa State, where he averaged 12.4 points and 4 rebounds per game as a sophomore and earned an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention.  That combination of offensive and defensive ability is something Johnson takes pride in, and he says his speed and quickness will be an asset for the Orange.

"[My style is] really just an up-tempo pace, like run the floor, really get to the basket, [get a] lot of open shots.  Just making plays for the team; rebounding, defensively.  Just an all-around game to try to help out completely."

While that's obviously a favorable self-scouting report, the team backs it up 100-percent and then some.  Asked what his reaction was the first time he saw Johnson play in person, sophomore guard Scoop Jardine said with a sincere laugh, "Wow, how'd we get him?  Who pulled that off?"

But Johnson appears to be more than just an on-court presence.  Added Jardine, "He's a great person off the court more than anything.  Wes is one of those guys you just want to be around all the time, and that helps a lot, more than basketball."