Keith Srakocic / Associated Press
Duke striker Jalen Johnson is opting out of the remainder of the 2020-21 season and will enter the NBA’s 2021 draft.
According to the stadium Jeff Goodman, there were “out-of-court issues between Jalen Johnson / his camp and the Duke” that took place behind the scenes. Jacob Polaheck and Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog also spoke to a source who said the freshman had already emptied his closet.
Johnson was the 13th overall player and the 3rd small striker in 2020, according to 247Sports’ composite ratings, making him the highest-ranked member of Duke’s recruitment class.
The Milwaukee native is third in the team on points (11.2) and second on rebounds per game (6.1). He is also shooting 52.3 percent from the ground and has 8 of 18 from beyond the arc.
However, Johnson appears to have fallen out of favor with coach Mike Krzyzewski. He recorded just eight minutes in a 69-53 victory over the state of North Carolina on Saturday. He stayed on the ground for 15 minutes in the previous game at the Blue Devils, a 93-89 loss to Notre Dame last Tuesday.
Johnson may still be feeling the effects of foot injury who filed it earlier this year. His abrupt departure naturally raises questions about the bigger factors at stake.
B / R’s Jonathan Wasserman designed it to be the sixth overall place for the Chicago Bulls in their latest mock draft.
“He projects himself as a great game creator, with the ability to grab and move, move or face and attack, “wrote Wasserman.”Kicking remains an obvious skill for swinging, but he can score off the ball, using his tools and athleticism to cut, finish and break the glass.