Keeper: JaJuan Johnson, Purdue

Booo Joel

On Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 1:12pm, Booo Joel elected to keep JaJuan Johnson, Purdue. I never thought I would see the day when the pick #92 ends up being someone's keeper. Johnson, a last round selection, consistently improved over the course of the season. He became Purdue's second leading scorer and rebounder, while leading the team in blocks (2.1) per game. Though Booo Joel's team struggled all year, this Boilermaker big man could help a struggling franchise turn the corner.

The first piece of good news arrived when Johnson announced he would return to West Lafayette for his junior campaign. After a trip to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, Johnson showed his potential as an NBA player. As one of the most improved players from his freshman year, JaJuan Johnson more than doubled his scoring average and improved in every statistical category. Though not ideal for team success, a lingering back injury to teammate Robbie Hummel accelerated Johnson's development. His offensive game has range out to 18 feet, a major step forward from year one. And his knack for blocking shots cleanly often starts fast breaks, leading to easy buckets. He runs the floor extremely well for a big man and is still developing some back-to-the-basket post moves.

The main question mark for Johnson is clear: strength. At 6'10", Johnson first showed up at less than 200 pounds. While he did manage to "bulk up" to 215, Johnson probably needs to get up to at least 230lbs to sustain consistent success next year. The Big Ten is not conducive to a finesse style, and Johnson still looks rail thin. If he can add some major muscle this offseason, Johnson won't continue to struggle establishing post position. He'll become a legit defender down low, instead of a mere shotblocker. And snatching more rebounds is always easier when you have the frame to box out effectively. If Johnson continues to develop and puts some meat on his bones, he's a solid NBA first round prospect.

Johnson averaged 13pts, 6reb, 3blk, 1ast and 1stl for Booo Joel in 12 starts. Granted, these aren't amazing numbers, but you could definitely see another jump in his numbers after another year of offseason training. He finished 27th in overall scoring, good for second on his team. Booo Joel went out on a limb with Johnson, as he is probably not a legitimate first-round talent right now. There were some other potential players on his roster that may have been "keeper" worthy, but Johnson truly was the smart play. For a franchise on the fritz, finding a team identity should be priority #1. And Johnson should provide some stable scoring power next season.