ESPN’s Ford Coming Around On JaJuan

The Boiling Point: ESPN.com’s Chad Ford gives his thoughts on Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson.

With the NBA Draft rapidly approaching, it appears ESPN.com’s Chad Ford is starting to think Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson can make it in the NBA. The NBA draft analyst sees Johnson’s improved outside shooting, length, leaping ability and athleticism as reasons why he can be “a Hakim Warrick type player at the next level.”

"Purdue’s JaJuan Johnson has been a bit of an enigma for me the past two years. He’s always been long and is very athletic. He’s got the size and leaping ability of an NBA player, but lacked the strength to play in the post at the next level. He’s coming off a great senior season and over the past two years he developed a very solid perimeter game and even started shooting 3s this year.That may ultimately be a critical transition for him. While Johnson continues to add muscle, he’s a bit slight for the 4 position. However, as he continued to show in Chicago this week, he gets great elevation on his jump shot and was showing the ability to get his shot off against anyone. He could be a Hakim Warrick type player at the next level."

Along with Johnson, E’Twaun Moore is also trying to find a place in the League. The draft is a little more than a month away.