Jalen Johnson – SF/PF – Duke – Freshman/19 – 6’9”, 220 lbs
Entering the 2020-21 college basketball season, there was a lot of hype around Jalen Johnson at Duke, but he wound up only playing 11 games for the Blue Devils due to a foot injury and then decided to leave the team to prepare for the 2021 NBA Draft. There are questions surrounding his work ethic and character as a result of what transpired at Duke, but this should not take away from what kind of player Jalen Johnson is.
Standing about 6’9”, Johnson can not only be a factor on the wing or in the low-post, but he is more than comfortable bringing the ball up the court as a forward! He is definitely a very strong rebounder and with his big frame and athleticism, he is a tough player to keep out of the paint.
Jalen Johnson also has shown flashes of being a really solid jump shooter from the perimeter as well! In his small sample size of games at Duke, Johnson shot 8-18 (44.4%) from three-point range, which is definitely above-average for a prospect of his stature.
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A cross between T.J. Warren and Tobias Harris type of player is definitely a strong comparison to make for Jalen Johnson. He is an above-average level athlete and while he may not be the most explosive player, he is more than comfortable taking his time to get to his spots on the floor.
Jalen Johnson is expected to be drafted in the lottery in the 2021 NBA Draft, but for any team looking for a length forward who can make plays for his team with or without the ball in his hands, Johnson could be a guy that many teams look to trade up for on draft night,
