JaJuan Johnson- The 4 year college player

[PAOBoston]

personally, i think a lot of 4 year college players are more fundamentally sound b/c they have had a good amount of experience at the college level.

personally, i find it encouraging that JJJ has shown CONSISTENT improvement every year at purdue. hopefully that will continue in the nba as well. i dont think he'll be a superstar obviously, but a very solid rotation/fringe starter type of guy isnt out of the question. he seems to have a good head on his shoulders, is athletic and long, and has a decent jumper. i think he has the potential to be better than BBD at some point.

[Tw1x990]

Jason Thompson was a senior at Rider. I see some similarities between the two players. If JaJuan Johnson becomes Jason Thompons, its a very good pick.

[FrDrake]

Call me cynical but I tend to agree with the OP.  If the guy is 6'10'' with the enormous wing span, great hops and and soft hands, but then spends four years in school AND lasts to #27 in by all reports an all-time weak NBA draft, then these are not necessarily good signs.  He could just as likely end up with a career like Jerome Moiso's rather than a Marcus Camby.  Hope I'm wrong.

[GreenFaith1819]

Call me cynical but I tend to agree with the OP.  If the guy is 6'10'' with the enormous wing span, great hops and and soft hands, but then spends four years in school AND lasts to #27 in by all reports an all-time weak NBA draft, then these are not necessarily good signs.  He could just as likely end up with a career like Jerome Moiso's rather than a Marcus Camby.  Hope I'm wrong.

Good points...we've had a few Bigs come through here over the years that didn't work out.

Can only hope for the best with JJ. Every time I look at the blog front page and see him next to Moore pointing up in that pic - those long arms can be put to good use in the NBA and in Green.

If he can continue to develop, it will be really nice to have another shotblocker on the team besides JO. And he seems to be further along offensively than Chris Johnson was.

All we can do is hope.

I think those four years in college, for whatever reason, will help him as well. And he is certainly saying the right things according to the CSNNE interview.

[KGs Knee]

So, I'll admit upfront that I'd never even heard of this guy prior to the draft.  I had to spend a little time looking around to see what he's all about about, and, came to the conclusion that I'm uncertain of what his potential really is.

From what I've read, he is a legit 6'10" (albeit lanky), a good leaper, overall an elite athelete, and a decent midrange jumpshooter with a decent head on his shoulders.  Most of the comments here have been very positive as well.

My questionis is this.  If all of these things are true, why was he a 4 year college player?  I've seen where some people are saying this is a plus, but, when I hear the term "4 year college player" I do not think of it as a positive.  If he was really everything people are saying about him, wouldn't he have came out atleast 2 years ago?  Then on top of that, he was picked 27th in the draft.  This, to me, seems contradictory.  There must be something I'm missing.

Like I said, I don't know much about the kid.  I hope he turns out to be what people think he can be, but, I'm a little suspect.

I liked the Gerald Green pick too. It's ok to admit it.

Huh?

What does Gerald Green have to do with what I said.  Never did I say all players who enter the draft early are good prospects.  I simply stated I don't usually associate playing 4 years of college ball with being an overly talented prospect.  Most players with JJ's supposed talents leave early, and was wondering if anyone who might have a little more knowledge on his game had any insight as to why he didn't.

Maybe I was just missing the humor on your part?

[LooseCannon]

The last ten players taken in the first round and first ten players taken in the second round who played four years of college (or at least were college seniors when drafted).  This doesn't include players like George Hill who played three and a fraction years due to a medical redshirt.

2010 - Trevor Booker, Damion JOnes, Quincy Pondexter, Greivis Vasquez, Lazar Haywardm Dexter Pittman, Andy Rautins, Landry Fields
2009 - Darren Collison, DeMare Carroll, Toney Douglas, Jeff Pendergraph, Jermaine Taylor, Dante Cunningham, Sam Young. Jon Brockman
2008 - Courtney Lee, DJ White, JR Giddens, Joey Dorsey, Kyle Weaver, Sonny Weems
2007 - Jared Dudley, Morris Almond, Aaron Brooks, Alando Tucker, Carl Landry, Nick Fazekas, Jermareo Davidson
2006 - Maurice Ager, Mardy Collins, James White, Steve Novak, Paul Davis, Creaig Smith, Bobby Jones, David Noel, Denham Brown

[FrDrake]

The last ten players taken in the first round and first ten players taken in the second round who played four years of college (or at least were college seniors when drafted).  This doesn't include players like George Hill who played three and a fraction years due to a medical redshirt.

2010 - Trevor Booker, Damion JOnes, Quincy Pondexter, Greivis Vasquez, Lazar Haywardm Dexter Pittman, Andy Rautins, Landry Fields
2009 - Darren Collison, DeMare Carroll, Toney Douglas, Jeff Pendergraph, Jermaine Taylor, Dante Cunningham, Sam Young. Jon Brockman
2008 - Courtney Lee, DJ White, JR Giddens, Joey Dorsey, Kyle Weaver, Sonny Weems
2007 - Jared Dudley, Morris Almond, Aaron Brooks, Alando Tucker, Carl Landry, Nick Fazekas, Jermareo Davidson
2006 - Maurice Ager, Mardy Collins, James White, Steve Novak, Paul Davis, Creaig Smith, Bobby Jones, David Noel, Denham Brown

That is a sobering post.  Almost NONE of those players have made an impact for their teams.  For every rotation player like Carl Landry there must be 4-5 duds like David Noel ().  It is a reminder that people should temper their hopes about JaJuan.  Guys who have game simply don't stay in college for four years anymore...it's much more of (perceived) liability than a benefit.

[diconzo]

I've been watching JJ since mid March and I gotta say he is taller than 6'10. Just go to youtube and look at some highlights. He's at least 7' in basketball shoes. Also looks like he can bulk up without getting Eddy Curry-like.

[Cman]

So, I'll admit upfront that I'd never even heard of this guy prior to the draft.  I had to spend a little time looking around to see what he's all about about, and, came to the conclusion that I'm uncertain of what his potential really is.

From what I've read, he is a legit 6'10" (albeit lanky), a good leaper, overall an elite athelete, and a decent midrange jumpshooter with a decent head on his shoulders.  Most of the comments here have been very positive as well.

My questionis is this.  If all of these things are true, why was he a 4 year college player?  I've seen where some people are saying this is a plus, but, when I hear the term "4 year college player" I do not think of it as a positive.  If he was really everything people are saying about him, wouldn't he have came out atleast 2 years ago?  Then on top of that, he was picked 27th in the draft.  This, to me, seems contradictory.  There must be something I'm missing.

Like I said, I don't know much about the kid.  I hope he turns out to be what people think he can be, but, I'm a little suspect.

OP, great topic, TP.

This is a four year college player in a weak draft.  I like the kid and all, but the chances that he even becomes a starter on an NBA team are stacked against him.  I think in a weak draft you do the best you can, and this pick is pretty much close to as good of a pick as the Celtics could have made, looking at who else was on the board.  If he ever averages 20 minutes of playing time while with the Celtics, this'll be a solid pick by the Celtics.

[Celtics18]

The last ten players taken in the first round and first ten players taken in the second round who played four years of college (or at least were college seniors when drafted).  This doesn't include players like George Hill who played three and a fraction years due to a medical redshirt.

2010 - Trevor Booker, Damion JOnes, Quincy Pondexter, Greivis Vasquez, Lazar Haywardm Dexter Pittman, Andy Rautins, Landry Fields
2009 - Darren Collison, DeMare Carroll, Toney Douglas, Jeff Pendergraph, Jermaine Taylor, Dante Cunningham, Sam Young. Jon Brockman
2008 - Courtney Lee, DJ White, JR Giddens, Joey Dorsey, Kyle Weaver, Sonny Weems
2007 - Jared Dudley, Morris Almond, Aaron Brooks, Alando Tucker, Carl Landry, Nick Fazekas, Jermareo Davidson
2006 - Maurice Ager, Mardy Collins, James White, Steve Novak, Paul Davis, Creaig Smith, Bobby Jones, David Noel, Denham Brown

That is a sobering post.  Almost NONE of those players have made an impact for their teams.  For every rotation player like Carl Landry there must be 4-5 duds like David Noel ().  It is a reminder that people should temper their hopes about JaJuan.  Guys who have game simply don't stay in college for four years anymore...it's much more of (perceived) liability than a benefit.

In that range of 20-40, the truth is you are pretty lucky if you get a rotation player regardless of whether you go with a college senior, an underclassman, or an international player. 

Finding a Rajon Rondo caliber player in the twenties or beyond is a rarity.  I'm hoping we struck gold again with Jajuan Johnson.

[Eja117]

The last ten players taken in the first round and first ten players taken in the second round who played four years of college (or at least were college seniors when drafted).  This doesn't include players like George Hill who played three and a fraction years due to a medical redshirt.

2010 - Trevor Booker, Damion JOnes, Quincy Pondexter, Greivis Vasquez, Lazar Haywardm Dexter Pittman, Andy Rautins, Landry Fields
2009 - Darren Collison, DeMare Carroll, Toney Douglas, Jeff Pendergraph, Jermaine Taylor, Dante Cunningham, Sam Young. Jon Brockman
2008 - Courtney Lee, DJ White, JR Giddens, Joey Dorsey, Kyle Weaver, Sonny Weems
2007 - Jared Dudley, Morris Almond, Aaron Brooks, Alando Tucker, Carl Landry, Nick Fazekas, Jermareo Davidson
2006 - Maurice Ager, Mardy Collins, James White, Steve Novak, Paul Davis, Creaig Smith, Bobby Jones, David Noel, Denham Brown

To be fair there's a lot of cruddy players that didn't go to college mixed in there like Pettri Koponen, Gabe Pruitt, Nikola Pekovic, Walter Sharpe, Christian Eyenga, Sergio Lull, DeJuan Summers, Daniel Orton, Tibor Pleiss, Armon Johnson, and various players with names difficult to write and pronounce.

Plus there are always those great great players picked even earlier that don't go to much college and can't play.

[j804]

So, I'll admit upfront that I'd never even heard of this guy prior to the draft.  I had to spend a little time looking around to see what he's all about about, and, came to the conclusion that I'm uncertain of what his potential really is.

From what I've read, he is a legit 6'10" (albeit lanky), a good leaper, overall an elite athelete, and a decent midrange jumpshooter with a decent head on his shoulders.  Most of the comments here have been very positive as well.

My questionis is this.  If all of these things are true, why was he a 4 year college player?  I've seen where some people are saying this is a plus, but, when I hear the term "4 year college player" I do not think of it as a positive.  If he was really everything people are saying about him, wouldn't he have came out atleast 2 years ago?  Then on top of that, he was picked 27th in the draft.  This, to me, seems contradictory.  There must be something I'm missing.

Like I said, I don't know much about the kid.  I hope he turns out to be what people think he can be, but, I'm a little suspect.

OP, great topic, TP.

This is a four year college player in a weak draft.  I like the kid and all, but the chances that he even becomes a starter on an NBA team are stacked against him.  I think in a weak draft you do the best you can, and this pick is pretty much close to as good of a pick as the Celtics could have made, looking at who else was on the board.  If he ever averages 20 minutes of playing time while with the Celtics, this'll be a solid pick by the Celtics.

Cman is that a Celtics trucker hat in your avi? Ill son 

[Surferdad]

The last ten players taken in the first round and first ten players taken in the second round who played four years of college (or at least were college seniors when drafted).  This doesn't include players like George Hill who played three and a fraction years due to a medical redshirt.

2010 - Trevor Booker, Damion JOnes, Quincy Pondexter, Greivis Vasquez, Lazar Haywardm Dexter Pittman, Andy Rautins, Landry Fields
2009 - Darren Collison, DeMare Carroll, Toney Douglas, Jeff Pendergraph, Jermaine Taylor, Dante Cunningham, Sam Young. Jon Brockman
2008 - Courtney Lee, DJ White, JR Giddens, Joey Dorsey, Kyle Weaver, Sonny Weems
2007 - Jared Dudley, Morris Almond, Aaron Brooks, Alando Tucker, Carl Landry, Nick Fazekas, Jermareo Davidson
2006 - Maurice Ager, Mardy Collins, James White, Steve Novak, Paul Davis, Creaig Smith, Bobby Jones, David Noel, Denham Brown

That is a sobering post.  Almost NONE of those players have made an impact for their teams.  For every rotation player like Carl Landry there must be 4-5 duds like David Noel ().  It is a reminder that people should temper their hopes about JaJuan.  Guys who have game simply don't stay in college for four years anymore...it's much more of (perceived) liability than a benefit.

Perhaps the range of picks #20-40 should be adjusted.  If it's true that Johnson should have gone a bit higher then how about a range from #15-30, i.e. the bottom half of the 1st round, 4-year players.

[Eja117]

I suppose had JaJuan come out last year instead of going 27th this year he might have gone 45th last year, or maybe 18th or something and that would be a better indication of him being a good player.

[Eja117]

So, I'll admit upfront that I'd never even heard of this guy prior to the draft.  I had to spend a little time looking around to see what he's all about about, and, came to the conclusion that I'm uncertain of what his potential really is.

From what I've read, he is a legit 6'10" (albeit lanky), a good leaper, overall an elite athelete, and a decent midrange jumpshooter with a decent head on his shoulders.  Most of the comments here have been very positive as well.

My questionis is this.  If all of these things are true, why was he a 4 year college player?  I've seen where some people are saying this is a plus, but, when I hear the term "4 year college player" I do not think of it as a positive.  If he was really everything people are saying about him, wouldn't he have came out atleast 2 years ago?  Then on top of that, he was picked 27th in the draft.  This, to me, seems contradictory.  There must be something I'm missing.

Like I said, I don't know much about the kid.  I hope he turns out to be what people think he can be, but, I'm a little suspect.

I liked the Gerald Green pick too. It's ok to admit it.

Huh?

What does Gerald Green have to do with what I said.  Never did I say all players who enter the draft early are good prospects.  I simply stated I don't usually associate playing 4 years of college ball with being an overly talented prospect.  Most players with JJ's supposed talents leave early, and was wondering if anyone who might have a little more knowledge on his game had any insight as to why he didn't.

Maybe I was just missing the humor on your part?

Yeah my humor is pretty off. I myself never really know if I'm laughing with or at. I just don't.