2019 NBA Mock Draft: No one in the lottery wants to lose
G/F. Kentucky. Keldon Johnson. 12. player. 86.
Johnson played a fairly anonymous role in one of the most exciting games of the SEC schedule last Tuesday, as Arkansas nearly took down the Wildcats on the road. It was a great sign for Kentucky’s tournament chances that its secondary scorers were able to step up to push the team over the top but showed some of the holes that mar Johnson’s game as a freshman.
Another rough voyage to the basket for Keldon after a desperation 3 as Gafford swats the ball with his off hand. pic.twitter.com/dUgMrCkgDD
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) March 4, 2019
It’s not Johnson’s first instinct to get to the basket. He’s slim and his handle is a huge weakness right now. If you’ve watched Johnson, you’ve seen him bust out a pretty floater or two. He nailed a high-flyer over Daniel Gafford’s outstretched hands late in the second half on Tuesday but those shots aren’t as efficient. While he gets to the line a fair amount, Johnson’s primary offensive game at this point is spotting up as a shooter. He can’t really attack closeouts without the handle or finishing ability.
Great finish for Keldon Johnson after a rough start to the game. His ability to make shots at the rim will be a huge thing to watch down the stretch of the year for his draft stock. pic.twitter.com/bkTLDDceSu
— Brendon Kleen (@BrendonKleen14) March 4, 2019
The other problem is Johnson’s size. He’s listed at 6-6 and 211 lbs. but looks and plays smaller than his counterpart on the wing at Kentucky, Tyler Herro. When he gets inside, as in the clip above, his ability to get the ball in the basket is unreliable and he’s not a great passer. Once against Arkansas, he got into the post and finished over a smaller defender. That’s something we could hopefully see more often going forward but it’s not a great option for Kentucky’s offense.
Over the past three games including a 5-14 dud against Arkansas, Johnson is 10-31 from the field. Teams are exploiting Johnson’s limitations by crowding the paint on his drives and until he can develop any playmaking ability, Johnson’s stock is trending firmly downward.