To help readers get to know top NBA draft prospects, Insider offers a 360-degree look at many of them in a concise and thorough scouting report featuring three expert perspectives: Kevin Pelton (analytics), Fran Fraschilla (scouting) and Chad Ford (NBA front offices). Here's a look at Dakari Johnson.
WARP projection: 1.0 (43rd among players in top 100)
Comparables: DeAndre Jordan (96.5), Robin Lopez (95.6), JaVale McGee (94.5), Darrell Arthur (94.5)
Strengths: FTA%
Weaknesses: Shoot, Block%, PF%
The analytics perspective
In many ways, Dakari Johnson is effectively a one-and-done prospect, though he spent two years at Kentucky. Because of John Calipari's enviable frontcourt depth, Johnson played just 1,185 total minutes, about the same as Jahlil Okafor played as a freshman. And because he's young for his class, Johnson is similar in age to many one-and-done players (teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, for example, is just three months older).
So NBA teams will have to project Johnson, and his offensive rebounding is a good starting point. His projected offensive rebound percentage ranks third among players in the top 100, and it's tough to tell whether Johnson's weaker defensive rebounding is the product of his teammates or truly a weakness. On the negative side, Johnson is a poor shot-blocker for a 7-footer, and he'll have to maintain this season's free throw improvement (from 44.7 percent to 62.5 percent) given how often he gets fouled around the basket. Johnson's similar players suggest he's a good flier early in the second round.
-- Kevin Pelton
The scouting perspective
The NBA likes size and youth when it comes to developing players, and Johnson has both. He is nearly 7 feet tall and 255 pounds, and won't turn 20 years old until September.
Johnson may be a below-average NBA athlete at the center position at this point. And offensively he plays below the rim. Those are both red flags. But give him credit over the past year in reshaping his body and improving his conditioning. It showed in his improved stamina and his ability to run the floor better.
Although not explosive around the basket, he carves out space well and became a good position rebounder. He was 44th in the country in offensive rebound rate, impressive when you remember that he was crashing the glass with teammates equal in size and more athletic. In short, his effort was excellent.
Another thing I liked about Johnson is that he is an excellent screener and he "rolls with force" to the basket in screen-and-roll plays. While not great, Johnson's free throw shooting improved from 45 percent to 63 percent in one year. That's a positive sign about his work ethic.
I see Johnson getting drafted somewhere between No. 25 and No. 40. If an NBA team wants to develop a young big man with size and work ethic, he may be their guy.
-- Fran Fraschilla
The front-office perspective
Johnson came into Kentucky as a top-10 high school recruit, but he's always been overshadowed by the likes of Willie Cauley-Stein, Julius Randle and, this year, Karl-Anthony Towns. Johnson has NBA size and a strong frame, but his lack of length, lack of explosive athleticism and so-so conditioning have always held him back from being an elite prospect.
While he's an efficient scorer in the post and can clearly carve out space, NBA teams aren't necessarily dying for big men that don't protect the rim and don't shoot a high percentage at the rim.
"He's serviceable," one GM told ESPN.com. "I had really hoped he'd go back to school for another year and get a chance to get in even better shape and then be the guy for Kentucky. I think it would've helped his development and draft stock so much. Instead you have a kid that looks like, at the very best, a backup in our league."
Johnson is likely to go in the No. 25 to No. 40 range in this year's draft.
-- Chad Ford