VT MEN'S BASKETBALL Judge grants preliminary injunction to potential Hokie Johnson, others MARK BERMAN The Roanoke Times Sep 23, 2026 Sep 23, 2026 Updated 40 mins ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A state court judge in Indiana has granted Efrem "Butta" Johnson the green light to play college basketball this season.kAm|@?C@6 r@F?EJ r:C4F:E r@FCE yF586 z2C2 zC@E96 8C2?E65 2 AC6=:>:?2CJ :?;F?4E:@? (65?6D52J E@ y@9?D@?[ 2 7@C>6C r=6>D@? 8F2C5 H9@ H2?ED E@ A=2J 7@C ':C8:?:2 %649[ 2?5 he @E96C A=2:?E:77D]k^AmkAm%96 :?;F?4E:@? 8:G6D y@9?D@? 2?5 E96 @E96C A=2:?E:77D :? s2=6J G] }rpp 2 7:7E9 D62D@? @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ] &?E:= 2 EC:2= :D 96=5 :? E96 42D6[ E96 }rpp :D ?@H E6>A@C2C:=J AC6G6?E65 7C@> <66A:?8 E96 A=2:?E:77D 7C@> A=2J:?8 5FC:?8 E9:D D49@@= J62C] $@ x?5:2?2 7@@E32== A=2J6C $E6A96? s2=6J[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 42? ?@H A=2J uC:52J 282:?DE }@CE9H6DE6C?]k^Am kAmqFE E96 w@<:6D 5@?VE @A6? E96 >6?VD 32D<6E32== D62D@? F?E:= }@G] b] %96 }rpp H:== =:<6=J 2AA62= zC@E96VD 564:D:@? 367@C6 E96?]k^Am People are also reading… Despite opposition, concerns about rights, Marion council adopts loitering ordinance Food City's investment in new Marion store exceeds $15M A look at Smyth board's OK of data center zoning regs 7 Smyth schools to benefit from security funding Chilhowie Apple Festival to celebrate USA's 250th Smyth man accused of forging military document Friday Night Lights: Rural Retreat Farmers Market to expand opportunities Keys to victory in Virginia Tech football's road opener against Maryland Grant program that's helped Wythe, Smyth farmers now accepting applications No mercy: Smyth prosecutor, victim's nephew fight murderer's parole Virginia Voices: Lieutenant Governor gets to know Wytheville Interstate 81 crashes kill one, snarls traffic Stocked shelves: Food City opens new store in Marion College football's hottest seats: One coach's fate may already be sealed Grayson Highlands State Park hosts Fall Festival Sept. 26-27 kAmy@9?D@? :D 6?C@==65 2E ':C8:?:2 %649 2?5 :D AC24E:4:?8 H:E9 E96 E62>[ 244@C5:?8 E@ %649[ 3FE E96 AC@46DD E@ >2<6 9:> 6=:8:3=6 2E ':C8:?:2 %649 DA64:7:42==J :D DE:== @?8@:?8]k^AmkAmy@9?D@? H2D 2>@?8 gh A=2:?E:77D H9@ H6C6 25565 E@ E96 s2=6J G] }rpp =2HDF:E @? $6AE] `c] %96 2>6?565 4@>A=2:?E 925 DE2E65 E92E y@9?D@? H:== 2EE6?5 ':C8:?:2 %649 :7 96 :D 8C2?E65 2?@E96C J62C @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ]k^Am Efrem "Butta" Johnson (4) played for Clemson as a senior last season. He was granted a fifth season of eligibility by an Indiana judge Wednesday. Courtesy Clemson kAm(65?6D52JVD CF=:?8 @C56CD E96 }rpp E@ @A6? E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2= 7@C E96 A=2:?E:77D 7@C @?6 H66<] y@9?D@?[ E9@F89[ 925 2=C625J 6?E6C65 E96 EC2?D76C A@CE2= =2DE DAC:?8 :? 9@A6D E92E 96 H@F=5 36 86EE:?8 2? 6IEC2 J62C @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ]k^Am kAmp ?6H }rpp CF=6 2??@F?465 :? yF?6 H:== 6?23=6 s:G:D:@? x 2E9=6E6D E@ A=2J 7@C 7:G6 D62D@?D :? 2 7:G6\J62C H:?5@H :?DE625 @7 7@C @?=J 7@FC D62D@?D] x? @E96C H@C5D[ 2 4FCC6?E D6?:@C DF49 2D %649VD p>2?: w2?D36CCJ 4@F=5 C6EFC? :? E96 a_af\ag D62D@? 7@C 2 7:7E9 D62D@? @7 24E:@?] %96 CF=6 2=D@ 6=:>:?2E6D C65D9:CE:?8]k^Am kAmqFE E96 }rpp 5:5 ?@E H2?E y@9?D@? 2?5 @E96C 2E9=6E6D H9@ 6I92FDE65 E96:C 4@==686 6=:8:3:=:EJ :? E96 a_ad\ae D49@@= J62C E@ 86E 2 7:7E9 J62C[ H9:49 :D H9J 2 ?F>36C @7 2E9=6E6D 7C@> E96 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD @7 a_aa 92G6 DF65 E96 }rpp]k^Am kAm%96 @C:8:?2= 6:89E A=2:?E:77D :? x?5:2?2 WH96C6 E96 }rpp 92D :ED 9625BF2CE6CDX H6C6 8C2?E65 2 E6>A@C2CJ C6DEC2:?:?8 @C56C :? 62C=J $6AE6>36C E92E C6DE@C65 E96:C 6=:8:3:=:EJ] qFE E92E E6>A@C2CJ C6DEC2:?:?8 @C56C 6IA:C65 $6AE] `c] $@ E96 @C:8:?2= A=2:?E:77D ?66565 2?@E96C :?;F?4E:@?] p 962C:?8 @? E96 >2EE6C H2D 4@?5F4E65 $6AE] `c[ C6DF=E:?8 :? zC@E96VD 564:D:@? (65?6D52J]k^AmkAmx? 8C2?E:?8 E96 :?;F?4E:@? (65?6D52J[ zC@E96 HC@E6 E92E E96 A=2:?E:77D 7246 :CC6A2C23=6 92C>] $96 ?@E65 E92E E96 72== DA@CED D62D@? :D F?56CH2J 2?5 E92E AC6D62D@? 32D<6E32== AC24E:46 92D 368F?]k^Am kAmQ!=2:?E:77D 92G6 D64FC65 C@DE6C DA@ED 3FE H:== ?@E C646:G6 D49@=2CD9:A 2:5 @C }x{ A2J>6?ED F?E:= E96:C 6=:8:3:=:EJ :D 4@?E:?F65 3J 2 4@FCE @C56C[Q D96 HC@E6] k^AmkAmx? 96C CF=:?8[ zC@E96 ?@E65 E92E E96 A=2:?E:77D 2C6 6?E6C:?8 E96:C 7:7E9 2?5 7:?2= J62C F?56C E96:C 6=:8:3:=:EJ 4=@4< 2?5 92G6 ?6G6C C65D9:CE65]k^Am Efrem "Butta" Johnson (4) played for Clemson as a senior last season. He was granted a fifth season of eligibility by an Indiana judge Wednesday. Courtesy Clemson kAmQ%96 @?=J BF6DE:@? :D H96E96C 6249 A=2:?E:77 >FDE D:E @? E96 D:56=:?6D 2D 2 C65D9:CE :? E96:C 7:7E9 J62C @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ @C H96E96C E96J 42? 4@>A6E6[Q D96 HC@E6] Q%96 r@FCE 7:?5D E92E A=2:?E:77D >2J 4@>A6E6 F?56C E96 6IAC6DD E6C>D @7 E96 a_ae\af >2?F2= 2?5 3642FD6 E96 }rpp G:@=2E65 :ED @3=:82E:@?D E@ E96> F?56C E96 a_ad\ae >2?F2=]k^Am kAmQ%96 A=2:?E:77D … A=2J65 E96:C H9@=6 4@==68:2E6 42C66CD 282:?DE 7:7E9\J62C D6?:@CD] %96J 6IA64E65 E92E E96J H@F=5 2=D@ C646:G6 2 7:7E9 J62C 3642FD6 2== @7 E96 4=2DD6D E96J 4@>A6E65 282:?DE C646:G65 2 7:7E9 J62C]Qk^AmkAm%96 ;F586 HC@E6 E92E F?56C E96 }rppVD 7@C>6C CF=6D >2?F2=[ E96 }rpp 925 C6A62E65=J FD65 :ED 5:D4C6E:@? E@ 2==@H D@>6 @E96C 2E9=6E6D E@ 4@>A6E6 :? 2== 7:G6 J62CD @7 E96:C 6=:8:3:=:EJ 4=@4<]k^AmkAmQ%96 }rppVD EC62E>6?E @7 A=2:?E:77D :? 4@>A2C:D@? E@ A=2J6CD E96J 4@>A6E65 282:?DE H2D 2C3:EC2CJ[ 42AC:4:@FD[ 2?5 F?C62D@?23=6[Q D96 HC@E6]k^Am kAm%96 ;F586 ?@E65 E92E >6>36CD @7 E96 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD @7 a_aa 925 E96:C 9:89 D49@@= 6IA6C:6?46 5:DCFAE65 3642FD6 @7 r~'xs\`h] %96 ;F586 2=D@ ?@E65 E92E E96 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD6D @7 a_`f[ a_`g[ a_`h 2?5 a_a_ 925 C646:G65 2 7:7E9 J62C @7 4@==686 6=:8:3:=:EJ 3642FD6 @7 E96 A2?56>:4 3FE E92E E96 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD @7 a_aa 5:5 ?@E]k^Am kAm%96 ;F586 2=D@ 7@F?5 E96 }rppVD @=5 C65D9:CE CF=6 H2D Q2C3:EC2CJ[Q ?@E:?8 E92E[ F?=:<6 32D<6E32== A=2J6CD[ 7@@E32== A=2J6CD H6C6 2==@H65 E@ A=2J :? 7@FC C68F=2C\D62D@? 82>6D 2?5 DE:== C65D9:CE]k^Am Efrem Johnson Courtesy Clemson kAmzC@E96 2=D@ ?@E65 E92E D@>6 2E9=6E6D H6C6 8C2?E65 2 7:7E9 J62C @7 6=:8:3:=:EJ 3642FD6 E96J 925 368F? E96:C 4@==686 42C66CD 2E 2 ;F?:@C 4@==686[ DF49 2D 7@C>6C '2?56C3:=E BF2CE6C324< s:68@ !2G:2]k^Am kAmQ!=2:?E:77D >256 2 AC:>2 724:6 42D6 E92E E96:C 4=2DD H2D EC62E65 F?72:C=J 4@>A2C65 E@ @E96CD H9@ 42>6 367@C6 E96>[Q E96 ;F586 HC@E6]k^AmkAmQ!=2:?E:77D >256 2 AC:>2 724:6 42D6 E92E E96 }rpp D9@F=5 92G6 8C2?E65 E96> 2? 255:E:@?2= J62C F?56C :ED 5:D4C6E:@?2CJ H2:G6C 2FE9@C:EJ] … pE 2 >:?:>F>[ A=2:?E:77D 92G6 56>@?DEC2E65 2 C62D@?23=6 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 DF446DD 2E EC:2= 32D65 @? 2 AC:>2 724:6 42D6]Qk^Am kAmzC@E96 2=D@ CF=65 E92E E96 }rppVD E:>6=:?6 7@C 6?24E:?8 E96 ?6H 7:G6\7@C\7:G6 CF=6 H2D 2C3:EC2CJ 2?5 F?C62D@?23=6[ ?@E:?8 E92E 7:G6\7@C\7:G6 5:D4FDD:@?D 7:CDE 3642>6 AF3=:4 :? $6AE6>36C a_ac]k^Am kAmQx7 E96 }rpp 925 25@AE65 E96 ?6H CF=6 2E E92E E:>6[ :? E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 E96 a_ac\ad 24256>:4 J62C[ E96C6 4@F=5 92G6 366? 2 D62>=6DD EC2?D:E:@?[ H:E9 2== 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E6D 7C@> E96 4=2DD @7 a_a_ @C 62C=:6C 2==@H65 E@ A=2J 7:G6 D62D@?D F?56C E96 r~'xs H2:G6C 2?5 2== 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E6D 7C@> E96 4=2DD @7 a_a` @C =2E6C 2==@H65 E@ A=2J 7:G6 D62D@?D F?56C E96 ?6H CF=6] x?DE625[ E96 }rpp 56=2J65[Q D96 HC@E6]k^AmkAm%96 ;F586 ?@E65 E92E 2 4=2DD\24E:@? =2HDF:E H2D 7:=65 282:?DE E96 }rpp =2DE $6AE6>36C] %92E =2HDF:E D@F89E 7:G6\7@C\7:G6 DE2EFD 7@C E96 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD6D @7 a_a` 2?5 a_aa] %96 }rpp C6DA@?565 E@ E96 =2HDF:E =2DE ~4E@36C 3J D2J:?8 :? 2 >6>@ E92E 6=:8:3:=:EJ CF=6D H@F=5 ?@E 492?86 :? E96 a_ad\ae @C a_ae\af D49@@= J62C]k^Am kAmQ%9:D DE2E6>6?E 3J E96 }rpp >:D=65 A=2:?E:77D[ =625:?8 E96> E@ >2<6 C2E:@?2= 564:D:@?D E@ >@G6 @? H:E9 E96:C =:G6D[Q D96 HC@E6]k^AmkAmQ%96?[ @? pAC:= af[ a_ae[ E96 s:G:D:@? = q@2C5 @7 s:C64E@CD E@=5 E96 s:G:D:@? x r23:?6E E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5 H:E9 E96 CF=6 492?86 3FE 6I4=F56 E96 4=2DD @7 a_aa] xE 2AA62CD E92E E96 6I4=FD:@? @7 E96 4=2DD @7 a_aa H2D … E@ AC@E64E }rpp :?DE:EFE:@?D 7C@> 92G:?8 E@ C2:D6 255:E:@?2= 7F?5D E@ A2J A=2J6CD]Qk^AmkAm%96 ;F586 2=D@ ?@E65 E92E E96 7:G6\7@C\7:G6 CF=6 :? E96 a_ae\af >2?F2= 5@6D ?@E DA64:7:42==J DE2E6 E92E E96 9:89 D49@@= 8C25F2E:?8 4=2DD @7 a_aa :D 6I4=F565 7C@> 86EE:?8 2 7:7E9 J62C]k^Am kAmQ&?56C E96 A=2:?[ F?2>3:8F@FD E6IE @7 E96 >2?F2=[ A=2:?E:77D 2C6 6=:8:3=6[Q D96 HC@E6]k^Am kAmy@9?D@?[ ab[ DA6?E 9:D 7:CDE E9C66 4@==686 D62D@?D 2E &pq 367@C6 EC2?D76CC:?8 E@ r=6>D@? 7@C 9:D D6?:@C D62D@?] k^AmkAmw6 A=2J65 :? bd 82>6D 2D 2 r=6>D@? D6?:@C =2DE D62D@?[ DE2CE:?8 ?:?6] w6 2G6C2865 e]b A@:?ED 2?5 a`]` >:?FE6D] w6 >256 cc b\A@:?E6CD]k^Am Mark Berman (540) 981-3125mark.berman@roanoke.com 0 Comments Locations Virginia Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Hokies' Franklin on breakout players Hokies' Franklin on the offense's success early in the season Hokies' Franklin on the offense's success early in the season Hokies' Hairston on offensive execution Hokies' Hairston on offensive execution Hokies' Flowers on team's 3-0 start Hokies' Flowers on team's 3-0 start