NCAA Basketball: 5 under-the-radar freshmen to watch in 2018-19

SG Keldon Johnson, Kentucky

Kentucky’s lack of outside shooting certainly hurt them last season, yet perhaps their biggest weakness may have been the fact they didn’t have a go-to guy offensively that could get them a bucket when they needed it. Kevin Knox was supposed to be that guy, and even though they have several quality players returning, none of them have the makeup of a No. 1 scoring option.

Enter Johnson, who I think will be Kentucky’s best player next season. He’s a solid 3-point shooter who has great size for the position (6 foot-6, 216 pounds) and knows how to get to and finish around the basket.

That scoring ability will be great for the Wildcats but it’s Johnson’s mindset that will make him the player head coach John Calipari needs him to be.

"“I like his leadership ability as much as anything else,” USA Basketball junior national team coach Don Showalter told reporters during McDonald’s All-American Game practices. “He gets everybody involved in the game. He plays hard. He continually makes the right play. When you look at a basketball play — he knows when to make it. That says a lot about him. He’s going to go from being a really good player to being a great one, I think.”"

Johnson is expected to have a big role right away for Kentucky and, given his skill set, I expect him to become a guy who sees his draft stock and national profile really improve throughout the college season.