2021 NBA Draft Scouting Report: SF Jalen Johnson

PSO’s original Scouting Reports strive to be uniquely valuable in evaluating a player’s future outlook by focusing on the four main subjects that summarize a player’s likelihood of succeeding at the next level including: Natural Athleticism, developed NBA-Caliber Skills, proven Production, and overall Risk that each individual player presents to a team drafting him. For a full breakdown of PSO’s Scouting Reports, click here.

BIO

Pos: SF

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI

School: Duke

Class: Freshman

DOB (Age): 12/18/01 (Age 19)

Height: 6’9″ | Weight: 210 lbs.

Wingspan: 7’0,25” | Vertical: N/A

INTERESTING FACTS

Left Duke mid-season to focus on his health and preparing for the draft, says he’s now “more prepared than ever”
Both parents played college basketball for the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee; father played 2 pro seasons in Poland
Had 19 points & 19 rebounds while going 8-8 from the field in his Duke debut against Coppin State

ATHLETICISM

Pros

Very athletic frame; large wingspan and strong for his age with the potential to add more muscle
Good speed for his size, can run well in the open floor with or without the ball
Lateral quickness is a strength; slides his feet well on defense and has the ability to get down and cover guards
Good vertical leaper; evident in his rebounding ability, has a tendency to catch the ball at the apex
Tough to stop on a straight line drive; combination of speed and strength = potential to get to the line
Efficient mover off the ball; good defensive rotations and can navigate the paint well
Aggressive above the rim; thunderous dunker and always lurking for put back opportunities

Cons

Does not love playing through contact; a little surprising given his frame, but tries to finish with finesse frequently

Grade: A

NBA SKILLS

Pros

High overall defensive potential; very versatile and can guard most if not all positions on the floor
Great energy on the glass, creates extra opportunities for his team and can start the break himself
Instinctual passer and solid open floor awareness, assists should be a strength in the NBA
Great finisher at the rim with variety of dunk and layup packages
Has a diverse offensive game in the paint and on drives, the addition of a jump shot would be dangerous

Cons

Shot mechanics must improve; release is not fluid and poor FT% suggests that a change is needed
Not a threat to shoot from the outside at this point, can knock down open 3s, but contested shooting needs work
Tries to do to much in transition; more turnovers than assists in total for the season
Will need to learn to embrace contact as most defenders in the NBA are his size and can block fades in the lane

Grade: B+

PRODUCTION

Pros

6.1 RPG; nice number for his position and gets rebounds on both sides of the floor
2 games over 30 minutes; had 15+ pts and 15+ rebs in both; potential to produce at a high level
44% from behind the arc; limited sample size, but shows the ability to shoot from distance
53.3% FG highlights his impressive efficiency and ability to limit bad possessions
28.6 USG rate; very high for a team that had plenty of contributors
2.1 BLK/36 min and 1.9 STL/36 min; potential to stuff the stat sheet if given the opportunity

Cons

63.2 FT%; as a player who will be slashing and driving a lot this will need to improve drastically
4.3 TOVs per 36 minutes; way too high for someone who is not bringing the ball up
33.1% projected NBA 3P%; needs to add this dimension to his game to become a more complete offensive player
104.3 O-Rating; not as high as most potential lottery picks, will need to be more consistent
7 out of 13 games with under 10 points scored, disappeared on offense and seemed disinterested
13 GP; small sample size against NCAA competition is a cause for concern amongst some NBA teams

Grade: B

RISK

Pros

Professional body with room to get stronger, will not have to work to get into NBA shape
Will make his debut at the age of 19; plenty of time to mature and improve his game
Defense should not be an issue, strong mechanics shown when he is focused on that end
Unselfish player that could flourish if given the freedom to create while cutting down on turnovers
Instantly looks like 1 of the most athletic players on the court who could shine on both ends

Cons

Leaving Duke early is a red flag for all teams; questions about his dedication to his team and the game
Also left IMG Academy during his senior year of HS which could be a concerning habit (both during COVID though)
Tries to do too much on offense; will not get a lot of minutes if turnovers remain high
Will be 1-dimensional if outside jump shot does not develop; coaching is essential
Does he have enough experience against high level competition?

Grade: B

OVERALL

Over the past few years, Duke wings and forwards have had a constant presence at the top of the NBA draft. Going into this NCAA season, many thought Jalen Johnson would be the next highly touted 1-and-done prospect to come out of Durham. However, it is safe to say that Johnson’s time at Duke did not go as planned for either side, and he decided to leave the team before the end of one of the worst seasons in recent memory for the Blue Devils.

While his reasoning was to focus his attention on preparing for the NBA draft, but the move simultaneously made teams question his dedication. As a prospect, Johnson has all of the physical tools teams want in a modern NBA wing. His wingspan allows him to guard most opponents, and he has the frame to add strength as he grows.

In addition, Johnson displayed good offensive skills and aggressive rebounding during his best games. His shot has the potential to develop into a viable weapon, and his ceiling is at an all-star level. Lack of consistent production is something that many NBA scouts will criticize about Johnson, but whatever team drafts him could end up with the steal of draft night.

Pro Comp: Rudy Gay (SAS)

Projected Rd/Pick: Mid 1st Round

Prime Destinations: IND, GSW, MEM, OKC

OVERALL Grade: B+