While this draft class may not have the star power potential of recent years, there’s still plenty of quality starter level players that are there for the taking deep into the first round. In a league predicated on defensive versatility and 3 point shooting ability, Keldon Johnson has the potential to play in the NBA for a very long time. Combine those 2 skills with his ability to drive into the lane and get baskets at the rim and you have yourself one of the more intriguing prospects in this 2019 class.

Strengths:

Long athlete and versatile defender

Solid rebounder for his position

Makes decisive reads where he wants to go with the ball whether it’s to take it to the hole or put up an open shot

Has NBA range potential although his FT% isn’t ideal

Good form on his shot

Explosive in transition; gets better as the game speeds up

Finds open space off the ball to create lanes for teammates and sets himself up for open shots

Doesn’t force up shots often; willing to move the ball around to find a better shot for a teammate

Weaknesses/Areas for Improvement:

His handle is still very sloppy, which will limit his shot creating upside

Not much of a playmaker for others, although he’s willing to pass when he doesn’t feel like he has a good shot

Although decisive, he doesn’t always finish well at the rim or through contests

Needs to improve his discipline on defense; sometimes gets caught falling asleep off-ball or gambling too often on-ball

Overall:

Kentucky played at one of the slowest paces in the entire country and I just don’t think that fit Keldon’s game very well. I suspect he will get a lot better with a much faster pace in the NBA. He fits the mold of a switchable 3 and D player for today’s NBA and add a slashing element on offense as well. He’s a gritty player who plays with a lot of energy and would fit with pretty much any team in this years draft. If he can improve his shot creation, he has upside as a 3rd option scorer on a good team.

Pro Comparison: Danny Green

Pro Potential: Starter