STRENGTHS: (Strengths and weaknesses on prospects 51-59 are from nbadraft.net)
"A physically strong 6’6 230 F/G with excellent length (6’11 wingspan) that allows him to play ‘taller’ than his height and decent athleticism and leaping ability…Uniquely versatile player who has experience playing SG-PF on both ends of the court…Resourceful scorer with mismatch ability (18 ppg on 53 FG% currently); can bully smaller wings as a slasher or posting up from as far out as 12-15 ft but also has enough touch to convert pull-up jumpers and 3s when guarded by slower frontcourt players…Master at up-and-unders, and consistently draws fouls (over 5 FTA a game at 75%) and converts tricky layups because of it…Picks his spots pretty well and does a nice job of attacking as soon as he sees daylight…Also has a solid turnaround J in the mid range…Knows how to use his strong upper body to create space when looking to slash as well as convert shots in the paint, but also is creative using angles and taking advantage of the rim & backboard to shield the ball from shot blockers, which is key for shorter frontcourt players…A consistent shooter with his feet set; legitimate 3-point range (39 3FG% on nearly 3 attempts per game) and is very good as a valve for dribble penetration…Rebounds well, especially for a 6’6 player (8 RPG as a Sr., nearly 7 rpg for his career) and is effective on the offensive glass…Doesn’t shy away from contact or bigger players and shows a pretty high motor…Moves well without the ball and has made a number of timely cuts that have resulted in backdoor alley-oops or open layups this season, let alone over his career…Mentally tough, competitive player…An overachieving type who gets the most out of himself whenever he takes the floor"
WEAKNESSES:
"At around 6’6 and more of a frontcourt player than a true wing, Johnson is undersized for NBA SF standards…His lack of height is more of a concern defensively, where taller players can rise and shoot over him relatively easily and convert shots in the paint…Offers little in the way of a shot-blocking threat (0.3 bpg for his career)…His physicality and motor at times works against him on D, as he can at times be foul prone and handsy when guarding on the perimeter…There are some questions about what position he will defend in the NBA…Relies heavily on his right hand for finishes, and at times attempts unnecessarily tough shots around the rim because of it…Doesn’t get much elevation on his jumper, which limits the types of jumpers he can take against set defenses…Average ball-handling ability, almost exclusively a straight-like slasher…At times gets tunnel vision looking to score, which leads to him driving into no-mans land and turning the ball over or picking up offensive fouls (3.1 TOPG as a Sr.)…There may still be concerns about his medicals in the draft process after scary 2020 incident, but the fact that he has been medically cleared by the NCAA should quell fears…Despite developing his shooting (43% from 3 as a senior) considerably, his 72% career FT number is still a concern …"
OUTLOOK: Keyontae Johnson, no doubt, has offensive game. He provides a good level of offensive versatility as a scorer and as a playmaker. He can really finish at the basket is an excellent cutter. You can expect those to be big parts of his game at the next level, as well as his great catch-and-shoot ability. He will struggle with separation, as he does not have reliable athleticism. He can also tend to force the issue with shot selection, and you combine that with his struggles to separate, and it could look ugly. His offensive versatility is an awesome trait worth trying to develop on your roster.
Player Comparison: Shades of Justin Anderson and Raja Bell
Projected Draft Position: Picks 50-58/Undrafted
Best Fits: Brooklyn Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Phoenix Suns
