He is a great athlete who started playing basketball at a late age, is a great shot blocker, is raw on offense but shoots a good percentage (52%), can run the floor, is 6'11', and improving every year. Does this sound a little like somebody we all know and love? An Overview... (from www.nbadraft.net) May be the biggest unsung hero for the Buckeyes...a force in the middle...has tremendous leaping ability for his size (6-11). Contributions not often reflected on the stat sheet...alters shots and forces opposing guards out of the paint. Has only been playing competitively since his freshman year of high school. One of the Big Ten’s premier shot blockers. Johnson jumped into the Buckeyes starting lineup during the 1997-98 season after sitting out a year. At 6-11, Johnson adds size in the middle for the Buckeyes ... he is an intimidating force on defense, where he has developed a knack for blocking shots. He was second in the Big Ten as a sophomore with 58 rejections. He is athletic and runs the floor extremely well for a 6-11 center ... Johnson adds a defensive presence to the team and is counted on to be a more productive rebounder and scorer in the low post in his second season. Away from the court, Johnson plays the piano, draws and enjoys video games ... born Feb. 1, 1978, he is the son of Tanya Johnson ... he has a twin sister, Kiana. As a Junior... Averaged 7.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.2 blocks in five NCAA Tournament games. Selected to play for One World Select, a team of 10 collegians, on a 10-day tour of Greece over the summer. Scored 13 points and grabbed 15 rebounds with three blocks for the U.S., who won the Nea Moudania Tournament with a 3-1 record. For the season, averaged 6.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.8 blocks...His block average is the sixth highest in OSU history. His 100 blocks are a single season OSU record. The 2.8 blocks per game ranked 16th nationally ... Johnson was one of only five players to record 100 or more blocks. Selected as the CBS Chevrolet Player of the Game against St. John’s (3/20/99) after a seven-block performance. Connected on 52 percent of his shots from the field (98-188). Earned the Most Improved Player award at the team’s annual banquet. Led the Buckeyes with four double-figure rebounding games...was game-high rebounder nine times and had team high in rebounds 18 times. Swatted seven shots and scored 12 points in win over St. John’s sending the Buckeyes to the Final Four. Moved into the No. 4 spot in career blocks against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament ... has 158 career rejections. Set career-high in rebounds in back-to-back games with 11 against Miami (12/27/98) and 12 at Wisconsin (1/2/99)...added 11 rebounds in win over Indiana to give him 11 or more in three-consecutive games. Tied career-high with 15 points at Vanderbilt (11/28/98). Set career-high with seven blocks against Robert Morris (11/18/98), Vanderbilt (11/28/98) and St. John’s (3/20/99). Hit 7 of 8 shots from the field vs. Vanderbilt. Led team with 100 blocks...has at least one block in 52 games as a Buckeye and 31 of 36 in 1998-99 ... has at least one rejection in 20 of last 23 games. As a Sophomore... Started 26 of 30 games as a sophomore ... averaged 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds. Ranked second in the Big Ten in blocked shots per game with a total of 58 and an average of 1.93 a contest. His block total of 58 in 1997-98 was the highest in five years at OSU until he rejected 100 last season. He had career single game highs of five blocks against Rider (11/24/97), Cal State Northridge (12/15/97) and BYU (12/30/97). He scored a then-career high 14 points vs. Michigan State and had a rebound high of 10 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament against Indiana (3/5/98). Set a career-best with 15 points against Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament. Looking Back... Johnson played high school basketball at Henry Ford High School ... his team struggled in the powerful Detroit Public Schools League with a 6-13 record when Johnson was a senior, but he averaged an impressive 14.1 points, 13.5 rebounds and 9.5 blocked shots per game. Career Highs Points 15 at Vanderbilt (11/28/98) 15 vs. Indiana (3/5/98) Rebounds 12 at Wisconsin (1/2/99) Assists 3 vs. Rider (11/24/97) 3 vs. USC (12/20/97) Blocks 7 vs. St. John’s (3/20/99) 7 vs. Robert Morris (11/18/98) 7 at Vanderbilt (11/28/98) Steals 2 vs. several teams, last vs. Wisconsin (2/24/99) Minutes 40 at Vanderbilt (11/28/98) 40 vs. Kent (11/19/97) Field Goals 7 (8) at Vanderbilt (11/28/98) Field Goals Att. 11 (6) vs. Indiana (3/5/98) Free Throws 6 (9) vs. Michigan St. (2/4/98) Free Throws Att. 9 (6) vs. Michigan St. (2/4/98) Offensive Rebounds 6 vs. Miami, Fla. (12/27/98) 6 vs. Indiana (3/5/98) Defensive Rebounds 8 at Wisconsin (1/2/99) 8 vs. Indiana (1/9/99) ------------------ Bob Rainey is my hero!
Im with you on that. Anything will be better than that weak ass draft we had last year ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
I live in Columbus, OH and have watched Ken Johnson steadily improve from year to year. He would be a really nice addition to the Rockets. He plays very good defense, rebounds well and is a decent scorer. Not to mention one heck of a shot blocker. While I agree with 4chuckie that he is not the second coming of Hakeem, (no one will be) he plays with much more desire and heart than Cato and brings alot of good things to the table. ------------------ "Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen" -Hudson
Anyone ever noticed there is a college corner? Just checking...carry on! ------------------ I am an invisible man. [This message has been edited by kbm (edited March 23, 2001).]
This upcoming draft will be without question a much deeper draft. Now, if we can only get four first round draft picks that would be awesome. ------------------ ""Minnesota and Phoenix, they're like the little teen-agers in the Friday the 13th movies. Jason is walking behind you. You know he's back there, but you don't see him." -Maurice Taylor
Why do we always want a project. The reason the Dream' story is so golden is because it NEVER happens. People coming late to b-ball aren't as good as those who have been playing it for awhile. ------------------
Ken Johnson reminds me of another late basketball bloomer with the lst name Johnson, Irvin from Milwaukee. If you want a glimse of how Ken will do in the league, just look at Irvin's stats and you'll see the future. I say go after either Sam Clancy from USC, Dan Gadzurik from UCLA or one of the Collins Twins from Stanford. These guys can ball and are big and are just what the doctor ordered for the Rox. A big man who can pass, defend, block shots and REBOUND!!! ------------------
I am the biggest Ken Johnson fan around. Man has heart (which most big men don't) and gets better each year. Someone asked why we always get projects. The reason is because there hasn't been a great big man to come out since Shaq. Most big men take time to develop, especially since most of them are just a year or so out of high school and they don't go up against guys there own size on a nightly basis until they get to the NBA. Will KJ be a great player? Probably not, but he will be a solid contributor for a long time and will be a very good defensive player. If you are looking for another Dream, well that's not KJ. If you're looking at him like Cato, keep looking. KJ has heart, which Cato seemed to lose once he signed his deal.
