Charlotte Hornets NBA Draft Profile: Jalen Johnson

The Charlotte Hornets own their own first-round pick and are owed second-round picks from the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Clippers. Over the next couple of months, leading up to the 2021 NBA Draft, Swarm & Sting will take a look at prospects hoping to hear their name called on draft night.

Age: 19

Height: 6′ 9″

Weight: 220 lbs

College Stats/Awards

Jalen Johnson enters the 2021 NBA Draft after spending one season at Duke where he played in 13 games, starting eight. Johnson averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game shooting 52.3% from the field, 44.4% from three.

Primary Strengths

Scouts project Johnson as a two-way combo forward in the NBA. He is a versatile player at his height with the ability to play on and off the ball at four positions. Johnson can defend multiple positions and is a good rebounder. He has great speed and athleticism, makes good reads, and is a skilled passer and playmaker.

Johnson can score in the paint and maybe at his best scoring on off-ball motion plays.

Primary Weaknesses

Johnson missed time with a foot injury at Duke and then left the program before the end of the season.

Johnson has an okay shooting form but is inconsistent. He needs time to continue to develop his shooting form and the need to speed up his jumper. Johnson has the ability to handle the ball but turnovers are an issue; he needs to take better care of the ball.

Draft Projection

Johnson ranks ninth on ESPN’s Top 100 prospects available in the 2021 draft. He’ll be a lottery pick in the 2021 draft. Johnson has the potential to develop into one of the top prospects in this draft class. If he gains confidence in his jumper, shooting form improves, takes care of the ball, and continues to excel defensively, Johnson will be a solid NBA player.

The NBA announced on February 26 that for this draft only, all college players must declare their eligibility, regardless of class, if they wish to enter the draft. The NBA Draft Combine will be held on June 21–27. NCAA players have 10 days after the end of the combine to withdraw from the draft.

The draft lottery will be held on Tuesday, June 22 on ESPN. The 2021 NBA Draft will be held on Thursday, July 29 from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The draft will be televised on ABC (first-round only) and ESPN.