When it comes to the NBA Draft, the majority of hype can tend to surround the younger prospects. With that in mind, every season there's a handful of upperclassmen that make the jump to the next level and have a significant impact.
There's always a handful of college players who don't get as much national draft attention as they deserve because of their age, but are incredible players that could make an impact at the next level.
For this week’s spotlight, we take a look at Kansas State forward Keyontae Johnson, who has legitimate NBA talent.
Keyontae Johnson (Forward | Kansas State Wildcats)
6'6” | 230 lbs
Season Stats: 17.6 PPG | 7.1 RPG | 41.9% 3PT
Notable Accolades
An experienced prospect with NBA upside, Johnson has re-emerged as one of the best players in the country again this season. The former Oak Hill Academy standout and top 100 recruit is now 23 years old, but still should be getting attention from NBA teams in the pre-draft process.
He experienced a medical emergency on Dec. 12, 2020, during a Florida game sidelined him for the remainder of his junior season. From there, he sat out his fourth season as a Gator before transferring this offseason. Prior to these events, he was viewed as a potential first-round talent.
Johnson took his talents to Kansas State for the 2022-23 season with one season of eligibility remaining after playing in three seasons at Florida. They made the postseason in all three years and Johnson was a major contributor.
Now a Wildcat, he’s once again proven he’s ready to make the jump to the NBA.
NBA Upside
Johnson is extremely experienced, but also is an older prospect. With that in mind, he’s got the tools to make contributions to an NBA team as a rookie.
For starters, he's a really good rebounder for his size. The 6-foot-6 prospect is very strong and has great length that allows him to defend multiple positions. More of a natural wing, he can slide down to defend some guards but also up to take on bigs.
While he can play upwards of three positions in college, Johnson will likely be a combo forward at the next level. As the competition and athleticism at every position increases, things will change for him.
Turnovers have been somewhat of an issue for him this season, so he needs show he’s a better decision maker as the postseason comes around. With that in mind, good things do usually happen when the ball is in Johnson’s hands. Due to his versatile scoring ability, he has earned a 79 PSP from Cerebro Sports this season.
He’s having his best season as a scorer in his career, and is absolutely thriving in the Big 12 style of play. He’s emerged as a fantastic 3-point shooter, knocking down nearly 42% of his attempts on the season. Johnson also gets to the free throw line at a good rate, which is crucial for NBA scorers.
Overall, Johnson brings experience and strength with his game which should be appealing for teams at the next level.
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