Regional Final Weekend Recap of Top NBA Draft Prospects

3.) Stanley Johnson-F, Arizona; Freshman. 9.0 ppg, 6-16 FGM-A, 4.0 rpg in 2 games

Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) moves to the basket against Wisconsin Badgers during the first half in the finals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona wing Stanley Johnson’s college showcase is most likely over and, as I did coming away from last weekend’s games, I struggle to envision a world where the Sixers have any level of interest in him. Though it’s likely that playing on an experienced team come tournament time was going to cut into the freshman’s production, Johnson seemed to disappear for lengthy stretches over the course of Arizona’s final two games of the season.

Johnson had a relatively strong showing against Xavier, tallying 12 points including a pair of three-pointers. If there’s something one needs to wrap his or her mind around when it comes to Johnson, it’s that he really is a physical specimen with an NBA body. Johnson should have little issue adjusting to the increased level of contact at the professional level and possesses enough explosiveness and versatility to probably project as a starting small forward in the NBA.

Now that his season is over, Johnson will most likely benefit quite a bit more from scouts shifting their eyes back to his Pac-12 performances in lieu of his postseason showing. Generally speaking, teams that have experienced leaders often turn to them during tournament time. Arizona had plenty of that to go around and Johnson appeared ‘on the outs’ at times when it came to the Wildcats’ approach on offense. If anything, fellow forward and Chester native Rondae Hollis-Jefferson impressed quite a bit more than Johnson and likely improved his draft status quite a bit.

In his team’s Elite Eight loss to Wisconsin, Johnson was almost a complete non-factor. He would foul out of the game having scored just six points on only four attempts. Sometimes its difficult to remember that, no matter how impressive these players are physically, Johnson is among countless freshman who are being rushed into adulthood and hardly given the leeway to have ‘off nights’. I continue to think that Johnson will make whatever team that does end up drafting him happy that they did. I also hold firm to my notion that the Sixers will have next to no interest in drafting him with any of their first round selections. Just does not fit the mold.