2015 NBA Draft picks: Detroit Pistons select Stanley Johnson
He was taken No. 8 overall.
The Detroit Pistons have selected Arizona forward Stanley Johnson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. It's the second straight year that a Wildcat freshman has heard his name called during the lottery, following Aaron Gordon, who went fourth to Orlando in 2014.
Johnson arrived in Arizona as one of the top prospects in the country and lived up to the hype while leading the Wildcats to a 34-4 record and an Elite Eight appearance. The team, however, fell short in a rematch against Wisconsin with a trip to the Final Four on the line as Johnson was held to just six points on 2-of-4 shooting in 24 minutes.
That disappointing performance didn't stop NBA scouts from gushing over Johnson's potential. The forward has huge size -- he's listed at 6'6, 242 pounds with a 7-foot wingspan -- and should be an effective rebounder at the next level. He also has potential as a shooter after averaging 13.8 points on 45 percent shooting from the field and 37 percent from three. Some scouts question his focus and consistency, which is why he didn't go higher.
2015 NBA Draft
Steve Hinson of Detroit Bad Boys, SB Nation’s Pistons blog, says there are a lot of reasons to be excited about Johnson’s NBA potential.
Johnson is a small forward, so that’s good. He’s also a terrific defender with outstanding size who can lock down multiple positions. He also scored at a higher rate last season than any other small forward - better than Justise Winslow, Mario Hezonja, Kelly Oubre, or Sam Dekker. Folks, this dude was the leading scorer for a 34-4 team at 18 years old. You don’t see that a whole lot.
Detroit is trying to remake its frontcourt after the failed Josh Smith-Greg Monroe experiment and Johnson should help there. He’s a good rebounder for his height and should develop into a better long-distance shooter than either Smith or Monroe ever has been. With Andre Drummond there to protect the rim, Johnson can focus on other things early in his career and hopefully develop into a strong complementary piece, whether on the wing or up front in a smaller lineup. As Hinson explained, the potential is there.
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