By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Cedevita Olimpija continues to build its roster for the 2026–27 season. On Saturday, the club announced the arrival of 28-year-old center Jayce Johnson. He joins a revamped squad that will compete in both the BKT EuroCup and the AdmiralBet ABA League.
The Ljubljana-based outfit previously fortified its lineup during the ongoing offseason by securing deals with Anthony Cowan Jr., Noah Kirkwood, and Brandon Murray. Additionally, forward Matt Hurt has penned a contract extension, and Jordan Gainey earned a promotion to the senior squad.
Per the press release: “Cedevita Olimpija has reinforced its frontcourt ahead of the 2026/27 season with the signing of 28-year-old American center Jayce Johnson. The newest member of the Dragons brings size, experience, and physicality to Ljubljana as the club continues to strengthen its roster for the upcoming campaign. Johnson signed a one-year deal with Cedevita Olimpija.
Iz turške Manise v Cedevito Olimpijo prihaja 213 cm visoki ameriški center Jayce Johnson!
Dobrodošel v Ljubljani!
🔗: https://t.co/HqYi5CcIVd#ZmajevaDruzina pic.twitter.com/lXKHdaoiwH
— Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (@KKCedOL) July 25, 2026
Standing 213 cm tall, Jayce Johnson arrives in Ljubljana following a successful season in Türkiye with Manisa, where he averaged 9.1 points and 7.5 rebounds over 30 appearances. The American big man began his collegiate career at the University of Utah before transferring to Marquette University, where he completed his NCAA career. Since turning professional, he has gained experience in Romania, Italy, the NBA G League, and most recently Türkiye. Johnson will make his debut in the green and orange jersey during the 2026/27 season, strengthening Cedevita Olimpija’s frontcourt as the club prepares to compete in the BKT EuroCup, AdmiralBet ABA League, and domestic competitions.
“Jayce is a player who brings exactly the dimension we were looking for. He is a physical center with a strong instinct for rebounding and rim protection. We believe his energy, work ethic, and experience will make him an important part of our team, and we are confident he will fit perfectly into our system,” said Cedevita Olimpija Sport Director Chechu Mulero following the signing.
“We started following Jayce closely during his time with Trieste in the Italian league. He is coming off a very good season in Turkey, where his performances further confirmed his quality and caught our attention. He is a player who can bring toughness and physicality to our frontcourt, and we have also received very positive feedback about his character, work ethic, and professionalism. We believe he will adapt quickly to our system and become an important part of our team,” said Cedevita Olimpija head coach Zvezdan Mitrović following the addition of the new player to the Dragons’ roster for the 2026/27 season.
“I’m very excited to begin this new chapter in my career. I’ve been using the offseason to work hard, and I feel fully prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. I’m thrilled to join a club of Cedevita Olimpija’s stature, and I believe my experience, energy, and style of play will help the team achieve its goals. After a great experience in Manisa, I’m looking forward to this new challenge and everything that comes with living in Ljubljana. I can’t wait to meet my teammates, the fans, and get to work. I truly believe we have all the ingredients for a successful season,” said Jayce Johnson after signing with the Ljubljana club.
Johnson began his professional career in Romania with CSU Sibiu, averaging 9.1 points and 9.1 rebounds in 21 games while also making his debut in the FIBA Europe Cup. He then returned to the United States, spending the 2022/23 season with the Santa Cruz Warriors before joining the Motor City Cruise for the 2023/24 campaign. Notably, Johnson led the entire NBA G League in rebounding during the 2022/23 season, averaging 13.5 rebounds per game. Ahead of the 2024/25 season, he signed with Pallacanestro Trieste, where he averaged 9.3 points and 7.0 rebounds across 29 games in Italy’s top division, before moving to Manisa for the 2025/26 season.
Johnson has also represented the United States senior national team. He appeared in two FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Qualifiers, averaging 8.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.”
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