UPDATED: College basketball: FGCU's Zach Johnson transferring to Miami for final season

Florida Gulf Coast University's Zach Johnson is headed home for his last college basketball season.

Johnson tweeted Thursday night that he was transferring to Miami, where he is from and played at Norland High School. Johnson must complete 15 hours of credits in summer school in order to graduate. As a graduate transfer, he would be eligible to play immediately for the Hurricanes.

"It was a real tough decision," said Johnson, who made it Thursday morning. "It was something I've been going back and forth on, and I prayed on it."

"I knew this was coming for a long time," said new FGCU coach Michael Fly, a former assistant who recruited Johnson, and replaced Joe Dooley as head coach after he left for East Carolina. "Zach and I are really close. We've talked throughout the process. He was very good throughout the whole thing."

Johnson had received a conditional release from athletic director Ken Kavanagh to seek a graduate transfer.

With the Hurricanes, Johnson joins former high school teammate Dewan Huell.  That and the chance for his mother, high school coach, and friends to easily see him play his final season played a huge role.

"It was a big reason why I made the decision," he said.

Miami also added former Oklahoma guard Kameron McGusty, and former Wyoming guard Anthony Mack, but lost star guard Bruce Brown and Lonnie Walker to the draft and Ja'Quan Newton to graduation.

"Obviously it's home," Johnson said. "I've been familiar with the coaches. I've been familiar with the players. They lost three great guards. Hopefully I can just come in and make an impact like I did at FGCU."

Johnson had visited Miami, Creighton and Louisville, and was scheduled to make a visit to Arizona beginning Sunday.

"I just felt Arizona had a lot going on," he said, referring to late-season turmoil with the status of head coach Sean Miller. "Creighton was amazing. Louisville's amazing. They definitely brought out the red carpet for me."

Fly said that Johnson had wanted to go to Miami out of high school, and that when the possibility came up of going there as a graduate transfer, Johnson wanted to do it. But Fly urged him to look at some other options, too.

"I think it was very smart the decision he made, if he was not going to be here," Fly said. "He's playing in front of his friends and family. His mom can come to every game. I think it makes sense all around."

"It was not an easy decision," Johnson said. "I love FGCU. I love Coach Fly and the players and Coach Dooley. Me and Fly are closer than a lot of people realize. It's deeper than basketball. He's been talking to me throughout this whole process. The (FGCU) fans, they've got a special place in my heart."

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Fly emphasized Johnson's departure as a positive for the program, showing the development Johnson had made in his game at FGCU to the point where he drew the level of interest he did as a possible graduate transfer.

"He had an unbelievable opportunity. ... I don't think it's a negative impact or look on Florida Gulf Coast," Fly said. "I don't think it makes us look bad. I think there's a reason he's made the decision he's made. He's got my full support as a person and a player."

Fly would like fans to celebrate what Johnson accomplished at FGCU.

"For anybody who is disappointed or upset, Zach Johnson gave us everything he had for four years," Fly said. "Because of his reputation and relationships in South Florida, guys wanted to come and play with Zach. He's been an incredible ambassador for our program."

Fly said departed senior Antravious Simmons, UNLV transfer Troy Baxter, rising senior Dinero Mercurius, incoming freshman Zach Scott, and Marquette transfer Haanif Cheatham all had connections with Johnson.

"I think there's a great guy in charge," Johnson said. "Coach Fly definitely has the connection within the community, he's a great recruiter, and he's a great people person."

The 6-foot-2 guard was a three-year starter for the Eagles after sitting out his freshman season for undisclosed medical reasons. He averaged 16.1 points last season, pouring in 37 with nine 3-pointers in the Eagles' Atlantic Sun championship game loss to Lipscomb. FGCU lost at Oklahoma State in the first round of the NIT.

Johnson already had announced he was seeking to be a graduate transfer, but still came to Fly's press conference when he was announced as the head coach and even spoke at the podium.

"I knew it was something important to be at," he said.

Johnson becomes the third player to leave since the end of the season.

Forward Michael Gilmore and guard Darnell Rogers announced their departures in the last week. Gilmore put his name in for the NBA Draft, but did not hire an agent. He also said, though, that he will transfer to another school -- if he doesn't play professionally -- that has the graduate program he is looking for.

Fly said fans shouldn't fret over the players leaving.

"Number one, Haanif Cheatham, Dinero Mercurius ad Christian Carlyle are going to be really good players," Fly said. "Zach Scott and Caleb Catto (an incoming freshman from Southwest Florida Christian) are as good as any incoming freshmen coming in we've had."

Cheatham, who sat out this season per NCAA transfer rules, also put his name in for the draft, but did not hire an agent. Players can make themselves eligible to go through the draft, and then go through the process to get an idea of where they're at professionally, but are allowed to pull their names out and return to school.

More:College basketball: FGCU coach Joe Dooley says RaySean Scott "still on the team"

Forward RaySean Scott, a rising junior, also had brought up transferring on his social media accounts, but has not announced a final decision. Fly said he's had multiple talks with Scott, who is from California, and also his mother. He said Scott has been doing well in offseason workouts and would be a good fit in his system.

"We're going to come to a decision that's going to be best for everybody," Fly said. "It's a work in progress."

Fly, who was in Dallas recruiting, said he's still recruiting for the 2018-19 season.

"We're going to recruit the best players that fit our culture and our system," he said. "... I want the best fit for that locker room. ... We want 13 guys that are bought in that are family that we want to be there and want to be with each other. I'm going to continue to recruit until we've got 13 guys like that."

More:College basketball: Tweets, speculation make it appear Zach Johnson, others leaving FGCU

Johnson won't be one of those 13, but Fly is more than OK with it.

"It was an emotional deal for both of us," Fly said. "It's not a basketball thing. I think he's going to be very successful and I think our program is going to be very successful. The difference is we are used to be in each other's daily life. The relationship is going to be what's hard."