Guys he is for real! I have been a big supporter of him since he came to OSu and he is constantly improving. He's a shot-blocking machine who is developing a respectable offensive game. Has a nice baby-hook shot, which for a 6'11 man is nearly unblockable and a niftky little move where he gets the ball in the low post, turns and banks in a nice little shot. He also runs the floor very nicely. He still needs to bulk up, but he is much bigger than his freshman year. I would love to see him as a Rocket next year!
What year is he? Can he run the floor? I know he can block shots, but how is the rest of his defensive game? Is he better about defending the middle than Cato? Do you think he can be good defending someone one-on-one? How about rebounding? If he can do all those things pretty well, he probably won't be in our range. I'd like to pick up a promising center, though, but so would the rest of the league. ------------------
Ken is a senior, actually a 5th year senior. He is a great shot-blocker but like most young shot blockers he tries to block everything. Coach O'Brien has tried to slow him down on blocking everything to keep him out of foul trouble and at times he has seemed to passive, but other times he plays well. He can run the floor and has quick feet, but he is still not huge. So like every other center in the league Shaq could throw him around, but he is around 225-230 pounds so he's not Manute Bol like thin. He does a nice job of blocking out, but he is not an aggressive rebounder. He definetely has the hops to do it but seems like positioning is more important to him. So he usually gets 6-7 rebounds a game, but more importantly he kep shis man off the boards. So basically his weak points are he is still too thin (but he gets bigger each year so he's still growing and his frame can support it), he's not aggresive on the boards, and not much of an outside shot. Upsides are the kid wants to learn. He gets better each year, he gets stronger each year, he can block shots, athlete who can run, and an eveolving offensive game. THe wanting to learn is the most important to me is he wants to learn and is very coachable.
4chuckie - we have talked here before about Johnson and I am aware of him. He should also be available when the Rockets pick (I would think he would go about mid 1st unless Ken finishes the season exceptionally strong and/or has a great tournament). One problem - I saw the Bucks against Kansas and he didn't seem to dominate Chenowith or Collison. I was a little disappointed. It's still early though. ------------------ GATER [This message has been edited by GATER (edited January 24, 2001).]
Gater- That was one of the games where coach O'Brien warned him about getting in foul trouble, and he did play passively. I heard one of the assistant coaches talking about it on a local talk show and they have since loosened the reigns alittle on him. Told him to not worry so much about the fouls. Young shot-blockers all seem to have the problem of trying to block everything and getting in foul trouble. I'm sure the coachesare still trying to talk to him but by telling him to not get into trouble they really kept his feet planted on the groung and made him very passive. Ken is also an emotional player. If he gets an early block he seems to pick his game up. Not so much gthat he gets down but when he gets fire up he'll cal for the ball offensively and seems to get the extra boost defensively. Like I said I would love to see him in a Rocket uniform. H would be a 2-3 year project, just to bulk him up and to learn to play man-to-man all the time annd to learn when to try to block a shot, but I think he will be a very good NBA center, at least defensively he will be fine.
NOW WE'RE TALIKN'!!! I've been impressed with Johnson ever since OSU went to the Final Four a few years ago. He's a legit 6'11", very athletic, and plays hard, i.e. everything Cato should/could be. He'd be a great pick with the Bucks #1. And don't forget Gadzuric at UCLA. He's also a talent, though he probably won't be available when the Bucks' pick comes up. ------------------ "ON-BEE-TAH-BULL!!", Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, alumnus, University of Houston
Who cares who the Bucks pick!? I think he was hyping the guy up for the Rockets' pick. ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
No, I didn't know that. I figured that it was a conditional pick that would end up in our hands in something like 2004. But, if we do get their pick, couldn't we put it with something else to move up? Two mid-rounders should land something pretty good, right? ------------------ Kenny Thomas had a foul called on him in the Western Conference Finals.
I don't know if you know this, but the Rockets' own the rights to the Bucks' #1 pick this year due to the Pryzbilla(sp?)/Collier trade last year. ------------------ "ON-BEE-TAH-BULL!!", Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon, alumnus, University of Houston
Ken Johnson is predicted to amount to nothing more than an Ervin Johnson clone.... Don't be fooled.... ------------------ Metalhead til I die!!!!!!!!!
Rusted- If you follow projections then Cat is a second round pick who was probably either cut in his rookie year by the Rockets or playing somewhere in Europe. Ken had a miserable offensive night vs Wisconsin last night, only 2 points, but did manage 10 boards and 3 blocks in an ugly game.
I hear where you're coming from, but big men are more predictable than Gs. Johnson doesn't even dominate his conference by any significant margin. That is a problem... ------------------ Metalhead til I die!!!!!!!!!
A young Ervin Johnson is better than what we've got. Johnson is a decent player, and I think he'll be able to find a nice niche as part of a center duo, or starting next to a strong PF. He needs to add weight, and his offensive game consists of pretty much put backs and alley oops. I'd probably take Alvin Jones over him, due to the rebounding edge (and also knowing how to play next to Collier). ------------------ The Serious Police are watching. Follow the rules or be assimilated. Shandon is underrated.
