Former Loyola Wolf Pack standout Johnny Griffin Jr. signs with NBL’s Windsor Express

(Windsor, Canada) – Following a storied two years with the maroon and gold, former Loyola University New Orleans men’s basketball forward Johnny Griffin Jr. has officially signed with Canada’s Windsor Express, as announced by the organization early Monday morning.

History
Founded in 2012, the Express is a member of the National Basketball League of Canada (NBL), a professional developmental league that features nine teams – five located in the Maritime Province and four in Ontario. The Express has made a name for themselves over the last five seasons thanks to back-to-back NBL championships in 2014 and 2015.

Roster
Griffin joins an Express squad that finished 25-22 overall (22-18 Division) last year under head coach Bill Jones. Windsor featured an impressive seven players who averaged in double figures during the 2016-17 campaign, led by former Western Kentucky hooper Juan Pattillo’s 18.12 points per outing. Along with his offensive talents, Pattillo led the NBL with 10.6 rebounds per game while ranking fourth overall with 361 total boards in 34 games played. Griffin will also have the opportunity to play alongside 2016 NBL Rookie of the Year Maurice Jones who set the league record last year with 8.0 assists per game. Jones’ 99 total steals paced the entire league during the 2016-17 season while his 4.080 assist/turnover ratio and 359 total assists landed the former Northwood standout at No. 2 in the NBL.

Statistics
The Express finished second in the Central division last year, trailing only eventual league champion London Lighting in the standings. Windsor’s 22 victories in 2016-17 were tied for the third most across both divisions and the squad ranked inside the top 10 of the league in 27 statistical categories.

News
Griffin is the latest in a string of new signings by the Express, as the team recently announced deals with 2015-16 MVP Logan Stutz, Winnipeg native Ayob Ayob and the re-signing of Maurice Jones.

For more information about the Windsor Express, follow this link to the team’s official website: http://windsorexpress.ca/.

More on Griffin Jr.
The Chicago native heads to Windsor after logging arguably the most impressive two-year span in Wolf Pack basketball history. A two-time NAIA All-America and Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) First Team All-Conference selection, Griffin left Loyola with the single- season record for total rebounds (319) while his 606 total rebounds and 68 career blocks (in just 62 games) are both the sixth most in program history