Jalen Johnson is the highest ranked recruit in Duke’s loaded 2020 recruiting class and projects to play a massive role on the team this season. He was the 13th ranked recruit in the 2020 class according to the 247Sports composite rankings, but many feel, for good reason, that ranking is far too low for Johnson. In part because of his ranking, Johnson will enter the season as perhaps the most underrated Freshman in the country.
Johnson is a special talent who is incredibly versatile. At 6-foot-9 and 22o pounds, Johnson has the size of a forward but also possesses some guard like skills. He uses his size particularly well in transition. When Johnson gets going down hill, he becomes nearly impossible to stop from getting to the rim. He is capable of using his athleticism to explode and finish with a dunk but also displays nice touch when near the rim. The combination of athleticism and skill make Johnson difficult to stop when attacking.
Johnson is skilled in many areas, but his most elite skillset in his passing ability. He has the rare ability to see plays before they happen. His passing ability has made an impression on the coaching staff. When speaking to the media last week, here is what Coach Jon Scheyer had to say of Johnson’s passing:
“His passing is special,” Scheyer said. “If you’re Joey [Baker] or DJ [Steward] or whoever, you like being on his team, because he’s going to find you.”
One thing that is clear from Johnson in high school is that his teammates knew if they were open, he was going to find them. Expect to see the same thing happen in Durham. He is an elite passer who is sure to produce several dazzling assists this season.
While he is great in transition, he also has the ability to be a great half court player as well. Scheyer has mentioned that his half court game could still use some work, but his driving and passing ability will certainly be a welcomed boost to Duke’s half court offense. Because Johnson is so difficult to stop from getting to the rim, when he drives, the defense will need to pay extra attention. If the defense over-commits to his drive, Johnson will make the defense pay by kicking it out to open teammate for three. Johnson creates a pick your poison scenario for the defense. When he drives, good things will happen and it will make Duke tougher to defend in half court settings.
In a roster full of versatile players, none are more versatile than Johnson. Because of his versatility, Johnson is a threat to play virtually any position on on the court, depending on the look Coach K wants to throw out. He will primarily play small forward, but Coach K can comfortably slide him around the lineup. Johnson’s versatility unlocks several lineup possibilities. Coach K can take advantage of his guard skills and use him as a guard in big lineups, but Johnson can also be a mismatch while playing power forward. Johnson is a great rebounder for his size. During his Senior season, Johnson pulled down 10.9 rebounds per game. This is just one of many reasons Johnson can be trusted to play down low.
Johnson can comfortably defend 2-4. While defending point guards and centers may not be his strong suit, he is more than capable of holding his own in these scenarios. His defensive versatility is just as much a weapon as his offensive versatility. Johnson creates matchup nightmares for the defense. While he can defend opposing power forwards, opposing power forwards simply will not be able to keep up with Johnson. If Coach K wants to throw out a super small ball look where Johnson plays some center, Johnson will almost force the hand of the opposing coach to make a substitution he does not want to make. A center attempting to defend Johnson will not work and would in all likelihood force a sub from the opponent. While Johnson can defend most guards, guards do not have the size to defend Johnson and he will make them pay by relentlessly attacking the rim. The opportunities to create lineup advantages are endless when Johnson is on the court.
Jalen Johnson is going to be among the leaders of the team in multiple statistical categories. Johnson is in line to have a monster season and is likely to be among the top candidates to win ACC POY.