Jazz Johnson’s eighth Italian team
It was an important day on the transfer market for Pallacanestro Ruvo di Puglia, which announced the signing of Jaaziel Dante “Jazz” Johnson. The American combo guard, born in 1996 and standing 178 centimeters tall, will wear the blue-and-white jersey next season, bringing offensive talent, experience, and a deep understanding of the Italian league.
Johnson arrives in Ruvo following his most recent stint with VL Pesaro in Serie A2. In the playoffs, he proved to be one of the standout players for the Marche-based team, averaging 21.6 points and 5.8 assists per game and showcasing impressive accuracy from long range, shooting 52% from three-point range in the series against Rimini. The American point guard is now a familiar face in Italian basketball. Since arriving in Italy in 2020, he has played for Cantù, Pistoia, Rimini, Rieti, Orzinuovi, and Pesaro, building a reputation as a prolific scorer and a player capable of making a difference in the most critical moments of games.
Among the most brilliant seasons of his career, the one he spent with Rimini in 2022–2023 stands out, as he finished with an average of 19.5 points per game and a 43% three-point shooting percentage. The following season, with Rieti, he took another step forward, establishing himself as one of Serie A2’s top scorers and winning the league’s Foreign MVP award.
During his time in Italy, Johnson also added to his list of achievements by being named MVP of the Serie A2 Super Cup, thanks to the 29 points he scored in the final. Consistency has always been one of his key strengths, as evidenced by the 31 games in which he scored in double figures out of the 32 he played for Rieti. Even during his college days in the United States, he had already showcased his offensive talent, making at least one three-pointer in every game of his final NCAA season. With the addition of Jazz Johnson, Pallacanestro Ruvo di Puglia has secured one of the most explosive and productive perimeter players in Serie A2, a player poised to be one of the team’s key figures in the upcoming season.
