2016 NBA Draft: Brice Johnson on cusp of first round?
By Matt Johnson
As the 2016 NBA Draft fast approaches, North Carolina standout Brice Johnson looks like a late first-round or early second-round pick.
With the NBA Draft just a few weeks away, franchises around the league are not only zeroing-in on lottery picks for the June 23rd event, but also keeping an eye out for potential sleepers.
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As of now, North Carolina forward Brice Johnson finds himself firmly entrenched amongst that second group.
While plenty of folks in attendance at the Barclays Center will be discussing Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram and Buddy Hield once NBA Commissioner Adam Silver begins trekking to the podium in Brooklyn, others will be reduced to the always-stressful waiting game to hear their names called.
For Johnson, that could mean any number of possibilities.
Generally considered a late first-round or early second-round pick by various analysts and draft experts, the 6-foot-10 forward may require a bit of patience before learning which destination will birth the start of his professional career.
What will it mean for whichever team drafts North Carolina’s first consensus All-American since 2009?
There is little doubt Johnson put together an outstanding final season in Chapel Hill. He helped the Tarheels rack up a 33-7 record that included ACC regular season and tournament titles along with a national runner-up finish thanks to Kris Jenkins’ buzzer-beating three-pointer in the NCAA Tournament championship game.
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Along the way, Johnson put up averages of 17 points and 10.4 rebounds while establishing himself as one of the nation’s best interior scorers.
Will those numbers translate over to the NBA?
We’ll find out in the coming months.
On the surface, Johnson is a true low-post presence. He’s strong within five feet and possesses a deft touch that leads to high-percentage finishes around the rim.
For the season, Johnson connected on 61.4 percent of his shots from the field while also proving proficiency from the free throw line at 78.3 percent for 2015-16.
The biggest question is whether he can continue to build physical strength while developing a consistent jumper to complement his inside game.
In Roy Williams’ offense, Johnson was rarely asked to venture outside the lane. Instead, he was tasked with working almost exclusively inside where he received feeds from guards Marcus Paige and Joel Berry II.
As a result, Johnson became accustomed to playing through contact with his back to the basket, two aspects of his game that will aid development on the next level.
The NBA game is more nuanced than the college game however and Johnson will need to become more versatile on the offensive end. A reliable mid-range jumper would go a long way towards doing just that.
Defensively, he positions well and proved to be a capable shot-blocker as evidenced by the 59 swats he recorded in 2015-16. Interior defense is always a welcome addition for any NBA team and if Johnson can continue to defend well, he’ll become an asset to whichever team drafts him.
Whether Johnson will eventually develop into a consistent force in the NBA remains an unanswered question.
For the time being, defense will be his best avenue towards becoming a contributor at the next level. He also possesses elite athleticism and gets off the floor quickly, two qualities which will help in the long run.
If Johnson can become more versatile offensively and continue to add muscle over the coming months, there’s no reason to believe he won’t become a productive NBA player.
Until then, his combination of shot-blocking and rebounding ability should warrant a late first-round or early second-round selection on draft night.