Former Tennessee basketball guard Keon Johnson received an invite to the NBA Draft Green Room, Stadium’s Jeff Goodman reported Thursday.
The Green Room is the NBA Draft prospects that the league invites to attend the draft on site— this year in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In past years the NBA has invited around 20 players to the Green Room.
Johnson earned SEC All Freshman Team honors in his lone season in Knoxville while averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
The Shelbyville, Tennessee native projects as a top 10 pick by most mock drafts with The Athletic having him going the highest, No. 8, and a plethora of mock drafts having him going No. 9 to Sacramento.
Johnson impressed at Tennessee with his athleticism and attitude on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor. The 6-foot-5 guard posted the best vertical jump at the NBA Draft Combine.
Keon Johnson's record vertical leap was on display this season w/ some ridiculous highlight blocks. Otherworldly athlete. Here's some clips: pic.twitter.com/qJz7fjjQ2X
— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) July 12, 2021
OH MY GOODNESS, KEON JOHNSON 🤯 #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/MGPFm3Mcbk
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) February 11, 2021
The former Webb School at Bell Buckle standout has plenty of room for development in his offensive game— specifically his shooting— where he hit just 13-of-48 three pointers in college.
Johnson shined in a win at Kentucky, scoring 27 points and in losses at Auburn (23 points) and to Alabama (20 points) in the SEC Tournament Semifinal.
Johnson isn’t the only former Vol looking to get drafted. Fellow freshman Jaden Springer is a projected first round pick and Yves Pons is a borderline draft pick.
ESPN and ABC will broadcast the NBA Draft on July 29 at 8 p.m. ET.
