NBA Draft 2019: Big Board 5.0

Keldon Johnson was a top-10 prospect to some when the season began. His stock has since cooled, with concerns about his offensive ceiling and defensive fundamentals dropping Johnson into the late first-round conversation.

While Kentucky was atypical in its lack of high-level prospects, Johnson still stood out as an important piece on the perimeter. He’s energetic to the extreme, making hustle plays on defense, crashing the boards and running the floor in transition. He tries to put himself in a position to impact the game.

At 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, Johnson has the tools to defend three positions in the NBA. He’s not an elite athlete, but improved fundamentals and awareness, in tandem with his effort, would make Johnson a valuable defensive piece. He’s also a solid spot-up shooter, leaving 3-and-D upside teams tend to gravitate towards.