Scouting report on Keon Johnson
Johnson’s elite size and athleticism were what made him such a tantalizing prospect. The young guard didn’t play organized basketball until he was in high school and often shows his greenness on the court.
His abilities are obvious on the defensive end. Shutting down an opponent doesn’t require elite knowledge of the game. Instead, Johnson relies on his length, quickness, and instincts to be a disruptive defender.
He projects to be an excellent one-on-one stopper, as well as an effective nuisance in passing and driving lanes.
His athleticism also shines when he’s attacking the rim. Johnson set a combine record 48″ official max vertical. His leaping ability in tandem with his 6’7 wingspan make him a fearsome sight when he’s got a clear runway.
For all of his raw talent, though, Johnson is severely lacking in the more nuanced aspects of his game. He’s stiff on the dribble, isn’t an elite finisher at the rim despite his athleticism, isn’t a stellar playmaker, and needs a lot of work on his jumper.
Although his shot is far from perfect, he displays a tendency to settle for midrange looks rather than try to bully his way to the rim. While he’s a freak athlete, he doesn’t have an exceptionally quick first step, top-end burst with the rock, or the ability to create separation yet.
As a minimal threat off the dribble, Johnson doesn’t draw the help required to open up passing lanes and doesn’t have the creativity to create them himself a la Rajon Rondo.
These things may come with time and experience, but are major concerns for a guard that lacks range.
On the bright side, Johnson’s jumper actually looks pretty good. The mechanics are textbook aside from a slight hitch that prevents him from getting shots up in one fluid motion. That small hang-up allows variance into his release which explains his uninspiring percentages from the free-throw line and beyond the arc.
If he can compact his release, he’ll find a much easier path to becoming a reliable deep shooter.