Cameron Johnson (Forward, North Carolina)
After three seasons at Pittsburgh and two at North Carolina, Cameron Johnson is entering the NBA at the perfect time. Not so long ago he would have been considered a ‘tweener, a perimeter player stuck in the body of a forward. Where that would have been a negative before, it is now his biggest selling point as a prospect.
Johnson is a ready-made shooting specialist who can catch and fire from anywhere on the floor. At six-foot-eight and with a lightning-quick release, he’ll enter the league as an immediate red flag on the opposition’s scouting report.
He shot a ridiculous 45.7 percent from deep last season, with many of his makes coming off balance and with a hand in his face. With excellent body control and the size to shoot over defenders, he’s a threat as a spot-up shooter, a pick-and-pop screener and shooting off of screens.
Nothing else in Johnson’s game particularly jumps out; he’s a smart passer but not a primary creator, he’s a fundamentally sound defender but not quick enough to be a lockdown stopper, and he lacks the strength to compete with bigger players down low.
If a team needs shooting, though, Johnson may be the best prospect available and those shortcomings shouldn’t be a deterrent. In a league where threes are more valued than ever, his ability to shoot the ball in any and every situation will make him a valuable player from the moment he checks into his first NBA game.