2019 NBA Mock Draft: Tankers beware

The No. 3 small forward prospect in this class, and the only one not going to Duke, Johnson might me the second-most physically imposing wing in the class outside of Zion Williamson.

Much like Williamson, you can see the power with which he plays every time he throws down a dunk. If Kentucky can continue to play quickly (led by point guard Quade Green), Johnson will look excellent in transition. He can easily catch a pass on the move, barrel to the basket, and throw down a powerful slam before you know what hit.

It bears wondering what Kentucky’s team will look like next year, however. Green, P.J. Washington, Nick Richards and Sacha Killeya-Jones, all contributors in 2018, will all be back next season. They’re all bigs, though, meaning Johnson could be thrust into a position much like Kevin Knox was this year, in which he plays up a position or two and is asked to handle the ball and score more than he should.

Johnson has a Miles Bridges type of body, and he should be working on his defense and physicality more than his ball-handling. He can be effective long-term without a handle, but maybe Kentucky won’t have the luxury of allowing him to develop into a better NBA prospect.

The team also has guard Ashton Hagans arriving next season, which should help, but the Wildcats’ other big commit is another big, E.J. Montgomery. We could see another frustrating season for Kentucky next year.