Hartford — Samson Johnson, a soft-spoken forward from Lome, Togo, has experienced the ups and downs of college basketball in a year’s time.

Prior to last season, coach Dan Hurley raved about Johnson’s potential. He gave Johnson his first career start at UConn in the 2022-23 season opener against Stonehill.

Johnson showed promise, finishing with seven points and three rebounds.

But things quickly turned sour.

Sometime after the game, Johnson found out that he suffered a foot injury that ended up derailing his season. By the time he returned to action in late January, he was too far behind to catch up and never became a factor.

Johnson is in a much better spot now with Stonehill (1-1) visiting No. 6 UConn (1-0) at noon Saturday at the XL Center.

Healthy and happy, Johnson, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound junior, is being counted on to play a major role off the bench.

“I feel like it was a good experience to learn from,” Johnson said about last season. “I’m just grateful to be back out here playing basketball.”

Showing off his athleticism and quickness, Johnson contributed a career-high 11 points and five rebounds in the 95-52 season-opening win over Northern Arizona on Monday. He scored at ease, with all five of his field goals coming via dunk.

“It feels great,” Johnson said after UConn’s practice at the XL Center on Friday. “I was really excited to get out there and show what I can do. Even though I was in foul trouble, I feel like I did what I was supposed to do and had fun.”

Hurley believes Johnson is one of the keys to UConn’s success this season. He’s been high on the agile forward since his first UConn practice.

“He’s a really good person,” Hurley said earlier this week. “He’s a loyal person. You can see he’s got super talent athletically, especially when you put him at the five and you put some shooters and some guys that can pass the ball around him. He’s a dynamic player.”

Johnson is in a good place physically and mentally. He’s also stronger after adding 10 pounds during the off-season. He benefits from playing against 7-foot-2 sophomore Donovan Clingan in practice.

“It’s a war out there every single day in practice,” Johnson said.

Hurley spent part of last season re-recruiting Johnson, whom the UConn coach feared would enter the transfer portal.

“He bought in late last year when we felt like he had one foot in the portal,” Hurley said. “We pleaded with him to come back. Now you’re looking at a guy who’s going to be part of an incredible tandem. But you also know in the back of your mind that if Donovan has that type of year where he is a dominant player, he becomes a lottery pick, you’ve got a guy that’s really, really good that will be returning to fill those shoes.

“But he stayed because he loves the program and loves UConn and he believes in himself.”

Johnson said staying at UConn was the best choice.

“I feel like I could have a chance here to showcase my talents and my abilities, so I can play basketball at a high level,” Johnson said. “Coach Hurley was always telling me, ‘I need you. You could be a part of big things.’ ”

Johnson knows he has much to work on. He got in early foul trouble against Northern Arizona by being overly aggressive and “a little too anxious to play.”

“I can fix that really quick,” Johnson said.

With Clingan on a minutes restriction as he comes back from a foot injury, Johnson should see plenty of action against Stonehill Saturday.

Hurley hopes to play Clingan about 18 minutes after going 15 minutes in the season opener.

“He’s got some big challenges coming, so he’s got to make sure the cardio is there,” Hurley said.

Stonehill, a member of the Northeast Conference, will be at a serious disadvantage in the frontcourt. No Skyhawk player is taller than 6-8.

UConn will look to polish some rough edges.

“Just execution issues and mistakes, it takes a little bit of time,” Hurley said. “Preparing for Stonehill, you go back and watch that game last year, we certainly didn’t look like we’re going to win the national championship based on how we played in that opener.

“You improve as the season goes on. Hopefully, we can improve from the opener to game two.”

g.keefe@theday.com

No. 6 UCONN vs. STONEHILL

Location: XL Center, Hartford

Tip time: Noon (FS2)

Records: Stonehill 1-1, UConn 1-0

Last game: Stonehill beat Army, 57-44, Thursday; UConn beat Northern Arizona, 95-52, Monday.

Series: UConn leads, 1-0, winning last year in season opener, 85-54

Probable starters: Stonehill, 5-10 so. guard Tony Felder (4 pts, 3.5 assists), 6-6 jr. guard Shane O’Dell (10 pts, 5 rebs), 6-8 sr. forward Pano Pavlidis (5 pts, 4 rebs), 6-8 grad guard Max Zegarowski (14.5 pts, 8.5 rebs), 6-8 fr. forward Louie Semona (4.5 pts, 2 rebs)

UConn, 6-5 graduate guard Tristen Newton (14 pts, 7 rebs, 3 assists), 6-6 graduate guard Cam Spencer (8 pts, 5 assists), 6-6 fr. guard Stephon Castle (12 pts, 5 rebs), 6-8 r-so. forward Alex Karaban (22 pts, 7 rebs), 7-2 so. center Donovan Clingan (12 pts, 8 rebs, 3 blks)

Noteworthy: UConn won 18 straight nonconference games since the beginning of last season. … Semona attended St. Thomas More and played for legendary prep coach Jere Quinn. ... Stonehill roster features six newcomers. … UConn is 36-3 all-time versus Northeast Conference programs. Last loss came vs. Wagner in 2016. … Dating back to last season, Huskies have won seven straight by double figures. … Stonehill’s loss came vs. George Washington, 89-44. … Diarra had season highs in points (11) and assists (7) last season vs. Stonehill. … Second of three straight home games to open the season. … Huskies are 41-5 all-time in XL Center openers. … A national championship banner unveiling ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. … Up next: UConn hosts Mississippi Valley State at 7 p.m Tuesday in Hartford.

— Gavin Keefe