Charlotte Hornets: 5 players to draft with 11th pick
By Jason Huber
Duke forward Jalen Johnson is the 9th ranked overall prospect by ESPN.
For the second-straight year, there are not many Duke Blue Devils projected to be lottery picks in the draft. In fact, Jalen Johnson is the only Duke player projected to be taken in the lottery but if the Hornets want a two-way player at small forward, Johnson wouldn’t be a bad pick.
It’s possible Johnson might already be off the board at No. 11. He’s projected to go anywhere from pick 8-13.
If available, the 19-year-old, 6-foot-9 Johnson could be a point-forward type player who has plenty of explosiveness and athleticism.
Johnson could play all five positions if needed depending on the flow of the game and could be a unique playmaker alongside LaMelo Ball.
However, a five-star player coming out of high school, Johnson missed time with a foot injury at Duke and left the program early after playing in just 13 games. He averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 52.3 percent from the field.
Durability and three-point shooting mechanics remain some of the biggest question marks surrounding Johnson.