The 2021 NBA Draft will be an important event for teams to build for their future. Here is the Keon Johnson 2021 NBA Draft Profile.
Position: Guard
Size: 6-foot-5, 186 pounds
School: Tennessee
Class: Freshman
2021 stats: 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 0.4 blocks per game, 1.1 steals per game, 44.9% FG, 27.1% 3PT, 70.3% FT
Johnson was one of the many freshmen who were hyped before the college basketball season. He was able to show off his talent in his one year at college and now is prepping for the NBA.
In the 2020 high school recruiting class, Johnson was a five-star prospect. He chose to play for Rick Barnes at Tennessee for his one year of college. The Volunteers were expected to be national contenders, but they finished with a No. 5 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. They lost in the first round to Oregon State. Johnson had a solid season, averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Following the season, Johnson declared for the 2021 NBA Draft. He is currently projected to be a first round pick.
Keon Johnson
Johnson has a lot of athleticism for a prospect. He has a quick first step, nice speed and can jump out of the gym. From an athletic standpoint, he is one of the most athletic players in the class. He can be a menace in transition, defend well and finish at the rim with authority because of how athletic he is compared to other players.
As mentioned, his athleticism helps him be a great defender. He has the footspeed to stay in front of opponents and slides his feet well. Johnson had 1.1 steals per game as well, showing his good anticipation. He also has plenty of highlight-reel blocks, as he is able to chase down players and jump quickly. Johnson will be able to guard multiple positions on the perimeter.
His ability to drive to the basket and finish are probably the best facets of his offensive game. He has the quickness to get by his man and get into the lane. Johnson can pull up from the midrange, throw up floaters and finish at the rim with either a dunk or a layup. He doesn’t just go straight up, Johnson can finish creatively over bigger defenders as he slips through the tall players in the lane.
Johnson has solid height at 6-foot-5, but he needs to add muscle to his frame. He is just 186 pounds, which helps him wiggle through defenders, but will likely leave him outmatched in the NBA. Adding strength will help him get to the basket even better and to hold up against opponents who are bigger and stronger themselves.
To make him a more well-rounded player, Johnson needs to improve his outside shooting. He hit 27.1 percent of his 3-pointers in college. With the NBA 3-point line, Johnson will need to work on his game a lot and make his mechanics more smooth to improve his range. If he can consistently knock down outside shots, he will be harder to guard and a solid offensive player.
His ball security is shaky at best. He doesn’t have the best ball-handling skills and needs more offensive awareness. Johnson has a negative assist to turnover ratio, which has to improve. If he wants to handle the ball more and take on more responsibility, he has to improve his ball-handling and decision-making when he passes the ball.
Projected Draft Range: Lottery Pick
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