5 things to know about Missouri State NBA Draft prospect Alize Johnson

In Alize Johnson's two years at Missouri State, he became one of the best players to come through the university. This week, he has a chance to make more MSU history.

With the NBA Draft on Thursday, the 6-foot-9 forward could be the first Bear selected since the legendary Winston Garland was taken in 1987.

Recent mock drafts by national publications have Johnson going late in the second round or undrafted.

Posts on Johnson's social media accounts have shown him in cities throughout the country where he would work out for NBA teams.

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Among the posts, Johnson has been photographed with NBA legend and Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson at a workout. He posted Sunday night that he was in Houston, home of the Rockets.

Johnson is hosting a community draft party in his hometown of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Thursday.

The NBA Draft begins Thursday at 6 p.m. live on ESPN from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Here are five things to know about the former Missouri State star.

Alize Johnson a memorable name for Bears Get to know Alize Johnson, with the Missouri State junior and associate head coach Corey Gipson.

He's a double-double machine

When Johnson took the floor in a Bears uniform, odds were he would finish the game with a double-double.

Johnson finished his Missouri State career with 37 double-doubles in two seasons. He finished his career averaging 14.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

MORE: Only 3 other players have done what Alize Johnson has done twice this season

He finished his senior year fifth nationally in rebounds per game and sixth in total rebounds with 384.

He's a juco product

With the dream of playing Division I basketball, Johnson didn't meet NCAA requirements coming out of high school, causing him to attend a junior college.

“He hit a wall,” Johnson's mom — Chanelle Johnson — told the News-Leader before his senior season. “He hit it like no one’s business. It was a reality check.”

Johnson chose to play junior college ball at Frank Phillips College.

There, Johnson earned NJCAA All-American honorable mention and was named All-Region during his sophomore season while averaging 16.7 points and 12 rebounds per game.

MORE: Alize Johnson named Valley Newcomer of the Year, voted to All-MVC first team

In junior college, Johnson hit the books in order to make his way up to Division I.

Johnson's successes at Frank Phillips earned him an invitation to the JucoRecruiting.com All-America Elite 80 Camp in Las Vegas in July 2015.

He earned a spot in the camp’s all-star game while also receiving multiple Division I offers.

Two months after the camp, Johnson verbally committed to Missouri State.

He's versatile

At 6-foot-9, Johnson showed the ability at Missouri State to play all over the court.

Johnson was capable of playing point-forward while also being able to post someone up.

His athleticism and ballhandling as a taller player allowed him to be a threat in transition throughout his career.

“When you think about this league, the importance is in small ball and the importance of position-less basketball,” analyst Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer website said. “With Alize, the ingredients are there within that realm where he can play defense on a 4 or 5 and switch positions.”

Johnson was considered a streaky 3-point shooter while shooting 28.1 percent from beyond the arc during his senior year, which was down from 38.8 percent his junior year.

Alize Johnson, #MissouriState's 21 year old senior PF prospect, tied his career-high with 5 made 3's to go with a career-high 4 BLKS in the #Bears 81-62 win over #IndianaState



Johnson, who was 5/9 from downtown for 28 PTS, has to prove he can make perimeter shots consistently pic.twitter.com/vzjvACZXx5 — DraftExpressContent (@DXContent) February 7, 2018

The forward finished his career shooting 45.7 percent from the field and 75.9 percent from the free throw line.

MORE: Growing up as the man of the house, Alize Johnson has worked for everything he's earned

“Definitely a very raw player, but the skills are there and you can see the makings of a guy who is important in today’s league,” O’Connor said. “But I think he’s so raw that with those second-round prospects, you like to see one skill that stands out and right now it’s not there.”

He was touted as a first-rounder before his senior year

After his breakout junior year, Johnson started to become a name on the NBA's radar.

Aran Smith, the owner of NBADraft.net had Johnson going 24th overall in a mock draft before the 2017-18 season.

"Alize is Mr. Versatility," Smith wrote. "He shows the ability to score, rebound and defend multiple positions.

"Despite playing at a small basketball program in Missouri State, he's a big talent. Expect to hear his name frequently around draft circles this year as he plays with tremendous passion and energy, and his skill set has really developed."

MORE: Missouri State's 'Mr. Versatility' makes first round appearance in NBA mock draft

After a senior year that featured a preseason knee injury and a decrease in his numbers, Johnson has slipped out of the first round in a majority of mock drafts and out of the draft entirely on others.

NBADraft.net's mock draft on Monday morning had Johnson going No. 55 overall to the Charlotte Hornets.

Johnson declared for the NBA Draft after his junior year with the intent of returning to Missouri State. He worked out with the Boston Celtics during the summer.

He was the MVP of a top prospect camp

Although he played in the Missouri Valley Conference and didn't go up against top draft prospects every game, Johnson made the most of a prospect camp when was going up against some of this draft's biggest names.

Johnson was named MVP of the Adidas Global Nations Basketball Experience during the offseason before his senior year.

Among the names at the camp was top prospects Michael Porter Jr., Donte DiVincenzo, Mikal Bridges and Robert Williams.

At the camp, Johnson led his team to a tournament title and impressed NBA scouts.

Where NBA Draft experts have Johnson going (last updated)

ESPN's Jonathan Givony — Undrafted (June 14)

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor — No. 53 to Oklahoma City (June 13)

NBADraft.net — No. 55 to Charlotte (June 16)

Sports Illustrated's Jeremy Woo — Undrafted (June 12)

Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman — No. 54 to Dallas (June 11)

NetScouts Basketball — No. 55 to Charlotte (June 5)