EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Men's Basketball Coach Stan Gouard announced that the Screaming Eagles have signed 6-foot-10 junior forward/center Johann Pautsch for the 2026-27 season.
 
Pautsch, who is a native of Duesseldorf, Germany, comes to the Screaming Eagles after spending the previous two seasons at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
 
During his tenure with the Raiders, Pautsch played in 60 games, making 35 starts, and averaged 5.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
 
In 2025-26, Pautsch made 26 starts during his 27 appearances for the Raiders, averaging 7.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest. He scored in double-figures nine times during his sophomore season, including a career-high 19 points in the Raiders' 78-65 victory over Mineral Area College.
 
Additionally, Pautsch had a pair of 10-rebound efforts, including a double-double outing (10 points, 10 rebounds) against State Fair Community College.
 
His performance helped lead Three Rivers to an NJCAA Division I Midwest District championship in 2024-25 as well as an appearance in the 2026 NJCAA Division I Region 16 title game.
 
Prior to Three Rivers, Pautsch attended Southeast Missouri Preparatory School, where he received multiple Division I offers before going to Three Rivers. He also Carl Friedrich von Weizsaecker Gymnasium School in Ratingen, Germany, where he competed in swimming and soccer.
 
Pautsch joins a list of newcomers that includes 6-foot-6 senior guard LA Hayes and 6-foot-9 sophomore guard Ebrahim Kaba.