Less than 36 hours from the NBA Draft and rumors are flying. Whether or not any of them will prove to be true remains to be seen, but this is what's news regarding the NBA Draft and Wake's players.[details]
HEADER JAMES PATRICK JOHNSON Power/Small Forward Wake Forest University Demon Deacons #23 6:07.6-245 Cheyenne, Wyoming Cheyenne East High School AAU Team: Colorado Flight
OVERVIEW The Deacons' "power source" that protected the team's speedy backcourt of Jeff Teague and Ishmael Smith, Johnson is the third player in program history to leave school early for the NBA. Rodney Rogers left after his junior season in 1993 and Chris Paul left after his sophomore campaign in 2005.
Johnson is regarded as one of the most athletic and versatile players in the Atlantic Coast Conference, as he has the ability to play four of the five positions on the floor, from the two-guard spot to center. He spent most of his Wake Forest career shuttling between the small forward and power forward positions, demonstrating his superior athletic ability that stems partly from a martial arts background in kickboxing.
Of all the things Johnson has learned from his father, Willie, including the discipline of martial arts, one lesson stands out. "If you try something, keep your mind to it and try your best." While he is not the type that dominates games, he can bring fans to their feet with a spectacular play. He's just so smooth and fluid that, at the end of a game, it's sometimes surprising to look at his stat line.
"We wanted James to continue to be a double-double guy," said head coach Dino Gaudio. "He's very talented. He can shoot, put the ball on the floor and he's a very good rebounder, especially on the offensive board. He has a knack for those because he watches the ball to see which side it will come off and he gives multiple efforts."
Gaudio is also struck by Johnson's poise, confidence and body control, all of which the coach believes probably came from the player's martial arts background. Johnson himself really isn't sure how that background translates onto the basketball court, but his father sees a direct connection. "I think it helps a ton," Willie Johnson said. "Most guys 6-8 or 6-9 don't have the ability to move so gracefully and effortlessly. You can see it in his timing, the way he can pivot and turn, how he can stretch and stay limber."
Willie Johnson is a former world champion kickboxer who competed until neck and back injuries from an auto accident curtailed his career a year ago. He's an expert in several martial arts who teaches the disciplines back in Cheyenne. His nine children include seven boys. While Willie never pushed them into the martial arts, he was happy to teach them - with one condition. "I told them `I can be your friend and your father, but in this school I'm your teacher,'" Willie said. "You say `yes, sir' and `no, sir' and everything is by the rules."
James Johnson was eager to learn. He earned his black belt in karate and was a natural in kick-boxing, where he won world championships at ages 17 and 18. "I never lost a match in the cage or the ring," he said.
He played several sports growing up but never tried organized basketball until the eighth grade. At Cheyenne East High School, he made the varsity as a freshman. He was a 6-2 guard when he started and played that position most of his career, even while he grew. That, and his body control, might explain his ball-handling and passing ability.
Johnson was ranked as the ninth-best small forward prospect and 43rd-best recruit overall in the class of 2007 according to Scout.com. He was listed as a four-star prospect by both Scout and Rivals and was a member of the Top 100 squads by HoopsReport.com, Prep Stars and PrepHoopsOnline.com. He was also named first-team All-State as both a junior and senior.
Johnson averaged 28 points and nine rebounds per game to lead the Wyoming High School Athletic Association playoffs in scoring and rebounding as a senior. He also led the state in blocked shots and was an 85 percent free-throw shooter. As a junior, he led the Thunderbirds to the 2006 Class 4A state championship with a 62-49 win over Cheyenne Central, scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds in the title game. He averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 blocks, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game that season.
During the summer, Johnson was selected co-MVP of the 2006 Nike All-American senior all-star game in Indianapolis, notching a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds in the contest. His stock rose after his performance at the Nike camp and he also played in the Montana-Wyoming Basketball Series for the top players in each state, in addition to competing in AAU basketball for the Colorado Flight.
In his first season at Wake Forest, Johnson saw action in all 31 games with 28 starts. He earned third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in 2007-08, becoming just the third Deacon freshman (Rodney Rogers, Chris Paul) to accomplish the feat. He was a unanimous selection for the ACC All-Freshman Team and finished runner-up in voting for ACC Rookie of the Year, in addition to being named a Freshman All-American by multiple publications.
Johnson led the team in scoring and rebounding with 14.6 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, becoming the first Deacon freshman in the ACC era to average at least 14 points and eight boards per game. His rebounding average was the 13th-highest average ever by an ACC freshman, and he combined with Jeff Teague to become just the fourth set of freshmen to rank 1-2 on their team in scoring and the second duo to accomplish the feat with a winning record. He ranked second on the team in blocks (40) and steals (41) and was third in assists (37), as he shot 48.7 percent (164 of 337) from the floor.
As a sophomore, Johnson played in and started all 31 games. He garnered third-team All-ACC honors and was selected as a mid-season candidate for the Naismith Trophy and a preseason candidate for the Wooden Award. He led the team in rebounding for the second straight season, averaging 8.5 rebounds per game. He combined with Al-Farouq Aminu to become the fourth-best rebounding duo in program history, averaging a combined 16.7 rebounds per game.
Johnson ranked second on the team in scoring with 15.0 points per game, as he led the Deacons in blocks (48), ranked second in steals (44) and was third in assists (62). He shot a team-best 54.2 percent from the field and averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds and shot 55.8 percent in ACC play.
One play that truly stands out in the 2008-09 season came late in a game vs. South Florida, as Johnson made a pass that brought down the house. After clearing a rebound and taking the ball to midcourt, he spotted Teague streaking toward the basket. As a defender moved over, Johnson jumped, turned his back and fired a pass that hit Teague in stride for an easy lay-up. It was all instinct, Johnson said.
"I went up to give (Teague) a jump pass," Johnson said. "The (defender) was getting ready to block it, so I just did a turnaround back pass. I do those all the time when I'm just playing around in the gym with some of the fellows. It looked a lot cooler than what it was. Coach didn't say anything about it."
While Gaudio said, "I wish he wouldn't do that," he also recognized the kind of ability it took. "He has tremendous hand-eye coordination, footwork and balance," Gaudio said. "Most young big kids don't have that."
Defensively, Johnson needs improvement in all areas, particularly guarding on the perimeter. "In high school I was always stronger or faster or taller and I just used my athleticism," Johnson said. "As soon as I got here, I found everyone is strong, talented, athletic and quick. Now I have to use a team concept instead of a `me' concept."
"If I'm going to try something, I try my best," he said. "If I post up, I'm going to post up my strongest. We always learned 'Don't be afraid of anything, and if you're going to attack something, attack it first and hard.' That's what my father always taught us, so I try to use that. He never let us live in his shadow. He would never allow that; he's too disciplined for that. What he accomplished, he set as his goals. We have to set our own goals and I'm living one of my goals right now."
2008-09 SEASON All-Atlantic Coast Conference third-team selection for the second consecutive year...Naismith Trophy mid-season and Wooden Award preseason candidate...Started all 31 games, seeing action at all three frontcourt positions, in addition to some minutes at the two-guard spot...Ranked second on the team with 465 points scored (15.0 ppg), as he led the Deacons with 187 field goals (345 attempts, .542), tied for second on the squad with 22 treys (69 chances, .319) and placed third with 69 free throws made (99 attempts, .697)... Led the team with 264 rebounds (8.5 rpg), including 79 from the offensive glass, as he combined with Al-Farouq Aminu to become the fourth-best rebounding duo in program history, averaging a combined 16.7 rebounds per game...Finished third on the team in assists (62) and second in steals (44)...Led Wake Forest with 48 blocked shots, tied for 12th on the school single-season record list...Averaged 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds and shot 55.8 percent in ACC play...Posted 10 double-doubles on the year to finish with 18 for his career...Ranked third in the ACC in rebounding, second in defensive rebounds, third in field-goal percentage, sixth in blocked shots and 17th in scoring...Scored in double figures 21 times and led the team in scoring in seven games...Led the Deacons in rebounding 18 times...Ranked third on the team with 27 dunks...Ended the year on a tear, averaging 19.8 points and 10.6 rebounds over his last eight games...Posted four double-doubles, had six 20-plus point performances and shot 61.8 percent during the year-ending stretch.
2007-08 SEASON Third-team All-ACC selection, becoming just the third Deacon freshman (Rodney Rogers, Chris Paul) to accomplish the feat...Unanimous pick for the ACC All-Freshman Team, as he finished runner-up in voting for ACC Rookie of the Year...Named a Freshman All-American by multiple publications and chosen ACC Rookie of the Week (1/21)...Started 28 of the 31 games he played in, leading the team in scoring with 438 points (14.6 ppg), as he shot .487 from the field (164 of 337), .280 from three-point range (28 of 100) and .689 from the foul line (82 of 119)...Also led the Deacons with 244 rebounds (8.1 rpg), grabbing 151 from the defensive boards...Became the first Deacon freshman in the ACC era to average at least 14 points and eight boards per game...His rebounding average was the 13th-highest average ever by an ACC freshman...Combined with Jeff Teague to become just the fourth set of freshmen to rank 1-2 on their team in scoring and the second duo to accomplish the feat with a winning record...Ranked second on the team in blocks (40) and steals (41) and was third in assists (37)...Went 17-for-21 on free throws in the last five minutes of games and averaged 15.4 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in conference play...Ranked among the ACC leaders in rebounding (third), field-goal percentage (fifth), blocks (eighth) and scoring (12th)...Scored in double figures 24 times, including seven performances of 20-plus points...Had double-digit rebound totals nine times...Led Wake in scoring 11 times and in rebounding 18 times...Posted eight double-doubles on the year to rank fourth in the conference...Threw down a team-high 39 dunks on the year.
CAREER NOTES Johnson started 59 of 61 games at Wake Forest, logging 1,821 minutes while scoring 903 points (14.8 ppg), hitting on 351 of 682 field goals (51.5 percent), 50 of 169 three-pointers (29.6 percent) and 151 of 218 free throws (69.3 percent)...Grabbed 508 rebounds (8.3 rpg), including 336 from the defensive boards...His average of 8.5 rebounds per game in 2008-09 was the best season mark by a Demon Deacon since Tim Duncan averaged 12.5 rebounds per game in 1995-96...Added 85 steals and ranks 13th in school history with 88 blocked shots...His 48 blocks in 2008-09 tied Josh Howard (2002-03) and Anthony Teachey (1981-82) for 12th on the school single-season record list...Averaged 15.4 points and 8.0 rebounds in 32 Atlantic Coast Conference games...Pulled down his 500th career rebound in Wake Forest's 2009 ACC Tournament game vs. Maryland, becoming the 32nd member of the Deacons' 500 Rebound Club.
HIGH SCHOOL Attended Cheyenne East (Wyo.) High School, playing basketball for head coach Damon Artery...Ranked as the ninth-best small forward prospect and 43rd-best recruit overall in the class of 2007 according to Scout.com...Listed as a four-star prospect by both Scout and Rivals...Member of the Top 100 squads by HoopsReport.com, Prep Stars and PrepHoopsOnline.com...Named first-team All-State as both a junior and senior...Averaged 28 points and nine rebounds per game, as he led the Wyoming High School Athletic Association playoffs in scoring and rebounding as a senior...Also led the state in blocked shots and was an 85 percent free throw shooter...As a junior, he led the Thunderbirds to the 2006 Class 4A state championship with a 62-49 win over Cheyenne Central, scoring 25 points and 11 rebounds in the title game...Averaged 21.3 points, 5.2 blocks, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game that season.
INJURY REPORT No injuries reported.
OTHER TOURNAMENTS/TEAMS SUMMER: During the summer, Johnson was selected co-MVP of the 2006 Nike All-American senior all-star game in Indianapolis, notching a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds in the contest...His stock rose after his performance at the Nike camp and he also played in the Montana-Wyoming Basketball Series for the top players in each state, in addition to competing in AAU basketball for the Colorado Flight.
PERSONAL Communications major...Committed verbally to the Deacons in late August of 2006, the same week as Jeff Teague...Son of Vi and Willie Johnson...Father is a seven-time world kickboxing champion...James has used martial arts to train and went 21-0 in competition... Is the middle child in a family of nine children...Born James Patrick Johnson on 2/20/87...Resides in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
SCOUTING REPORT Positives: Combo forward who might lack the height you look for in a power forward, but he has a very good blend of strength, body control and nimble footwork that creates some nice mismatches. Slower power forwards struggle to cover him on offense and he uses his solid frame and high energy to stay in front of the perimeter shooters (does a good job of facing up and taking his man off the dribble), demonstrating good elevation and timing to alter and contest the long-range shot...Shows very good post footwork (fluid when pivoting in the post), doing a nice job of disrupting the action with his ability to establish position in the paint and get into the passing lanes...Developed solid scoring skills (can shoot with either hand, excelling with a soft floater under the rim) and knows how to create his own shot, especially when using his coordination and foot speed to split double teams (effective scoring inside the arc, improving his field-goal percentage from .487 as a freshman to .542 as a sophomore)...Has that long wingspan (7'0") and leaping ability (41-inch vertical jump) to be quite effective hitting the offensive glass, where he uses his big hands to secure the ball for put-backs or to execute an emphatic dunk (had 27 successful dunks off 79 offensive rebounds last year and 39 times off 93 offensive boards as a fresh-man)...High energy type who has enough ball handling skills to garner a few minutes at the two-guard spot...Effective passer with great hands in the passing lanes, coming up with 85 steals in his two college seasons...Also shows better court vision and ball security consciousness, almost doubling his assist totals from his freshman year to 2008-09, while also reducing his turnovers)...Versatile athlete with the quickness to grab the rebound and then race to the other end of the court, showing good timing on his drives to create his own shot (finishes just as well with his left hand as with his right)...Does a very good job using his explosive initial step and body power to defend at multiple positions and is also too strong for a defender to counter when he drives to the basket...Creates mismatches with his developing perimeter range and with some release technique refinement, he has the ability to make three-point shots from NBA range...Will lose focus at times, but is a high energy type who moves well in transition and shows the hands needed to deliver in catch-and-shoot situations (shows good touch delivering with a floater in the lane)...Needs to work on his back-to-the-basket moves, but is an above average rebounder who does a good job of drawing contact and finishing when attacking the basket (needs to improve his free-throw shooting), as he does a nice job of keeping his dribble down (better ball handler last season than he showed as a freshman, evident by his 62 assists and 44 steals in 2008-09)...Has the balance to pull up suddenly, set his feet, put the ball on the floor for a dribble or two to get the defender off-balance and then execute fakes and hesitation moves to get his man to elevate too early before he fades back for a pull-up jumper...Effective ball handler with the court vision to locate open targets and pass the ball into the post for some easy lay-ups...Uses his length and reach well when staying in front of perimeter shooters, but must improve his lateral agility to recover when beaten by a slasher...Very active under the boards, as he has the power to out-muscle centers in the paint for the rebound and displays good timing going up in the air to alter and contest shots...Moves well around the court and knows how to gain spacing needed in the transition game to free himself for the outlet pass when he gets open around the rim.
Negatives: Has the body of a small forward, but lacks the lateral agility needed to play that position...Demonstrates very good strength, but does not have that size teams look for in a power forward...Physical in the paint, but does not do a great job of drawing contact and when he does, he is just an adequate shooter at the foul line...Gets into this rhythm where he has only confidence in his pull-up jumper and will settle for bad shots (will rush it rather than set his feet and get in position) rather than put the ball on the floor and drive to the rim...His shooting technique needs refinement and better consistency, as he does not always fade away or bend his knees properly and will getting into rhythm where he will push the ball forward, making it very hard for him to shoot coming off the dribble...His back-to-the-basket moves lack consistency and his intensity and focus waivers when he is not involved in the scoring action...Effective perimeter defender, but with adequate lateral agility, he struggles at times when he needs to box out and lacks the explosive initial step to rotate defensively (allows too much spacing)...Also needs to maintain his concentration, as he often gives a side to a slasher and is then slow to recover.
Compares To: RYAN GOMES, Minnesota -- Johnson is a versatile athlete who can guard multiple positions, but must improve his overall lateral agility and show more consistent focus on rotation defense. He is a pretty decent passer for a frontcourt type, but has to use his body better to draw contact. He shows nimble footwork getting in front of perimeter shooters, along with the post footwork and strength to be quite effective going for the rebound. He's caught between the three- and four-forward spots, but can create mismatches and works hard to finish around the basket.
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