UNC Basketball: Scouting report of Tar Heel freshman Puff Johnson

Bottom Line

Donovan ‘Puff’ Johnson is not a player who possesses the highest upside — especially considering that he’s already 20 — but his path to being a useful two-way wing for the next four years is clear-cut and reasonable.

Hitting a ceiling outcome where Johnson is an upperclassman starter or potent off-the-bench sparkplug is certainly in the cards, given the young forward’s undeniable polish as a shooter.

Three-point shooting may be his only calling card at the college level, aside from adequate (but unspectacular) defense, but there’s plenty of value in that in a system that regularly trots out paint-bound post players. Spacing and shooting matter, and there’s no question that Johnson will be able to provide that in spades.

Whether Johnson contributes from Day One is yet to be determined, due to his current physical status and the competition for minutes behind junior point-forward Leaky Black. There is a real, neck-and-neck competition for the backup spot between Johnson and fellow freshman sharpshooter Kerwin Walton, a four-star recruit out of Hopkins, Minnesota.

It should be noted that Walton, who is severely underrated on recruiting boards (No. 124 overall via 247Sports), offers real creation equity as a secondary pick-and-roll initiator and off-the-bounce scorer, unlike the higher-ranked Johnson. Walton’s versatility and ability to play with and without the ball could earn him minutes before Johnson, who simply profiles as a spot-up role player as a freshman.

But at 6’5 with a modest (and unreported) wingspan, Walton could just as likely find himself situated behind Johnson on the depth chart due to defensive purposes. The rotation battle will be one worth watching, especially with the season starting in just a few days.

Regardless of his role in UNC’s 2020-21 rotation, Puff Johnson offers much-needed shot-making on the perimeter and a snug fit in Roy Williams’ offensive system, both now and for years to come.