Johnny Juzang is a junior from Los Angeles, California who has helped lead UCLA back into college basketball relevancy. Juzang was the team’s leading scorer during 11th-seeded UCLA’s memorable Cinderella Final Four run in 2021.
Johnny Juzang 2022 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Juzang began his college career as a struggling bench player for the powerhouse Kentucky Wildcats. After averaging just 2.9 points per game, Juzang transferred to UCLA for his sophomore season. There, Juzang flourished, leading the team with 16 points per game and helping UCLA to a Final Four berth. Juzang was a force in the NCAA March Madness tournament, averaging 22.8 points per game and 4 rebounds per game.
Also, the junior averaged 15.6 points and 4.8 rebounds a game while shooting 36 percent from three this season. For his efforts, he earned First-team All-Pac 12 honors and was a third-team All-American selection.
Strengths
Juzang can shoot lights out from the mid-range and finish at the rim. He shot 48 percent on two-pointers at UCLA for his career and is a capable 3-point shooter. The UCLA phenom shot 36 percent from three on 4 attempts per game, which should translate to the modern NBA.
Not only is Juzang a capable shooter, but he is also a skilled shot-creator who can pick apart perimeter defenses. Juzang also is an adept rebounder for his size and position, especially his defensive rebounding. Juzang can also finish through contact at the rim and draw fouls when needed. As a whole, his offensive game is complete and polished, something NBA scouts will be pleased to see.
Juzang not only shoots the ball well but is a confident shotmaker. His footwork is NBA-ready and gets to his spots within the flow of the offense. For sure, Juzang will make the most of his NBA opportunities by contributing to the offensive side of the ball.
Weaknesses
While Juzang is more than capable on the offensive side of the ball, he struggles to defend. He has all the tools to keep up in the NBA on defense but has yet to put it all together. Juzang is sometimes overwhelmed by offensively-gifted players in one-on-one matchups and can be late on rotations in a switching defense.
The other problem that Juzang will have in the NBA is that he is not enough of a playmaker. For someone of his size and weight, he again has the tools to be a good playmaker but has not proven it yet. He averaged just 1.8 points per game this season, leaving the offense stagnant at times when centered around him.
While Juzang can find his spots on offense, a proven playmaker will do wonders for him at the NBA level. The junior also sometimes holds onto the ball too long, resulting in unneeded turnovers.
NBA Player Comparison
Evan Fournier. Evan Fournier is a 6’7 shooting guard, similar to the 6’6 Juzang. Fournier has also been able to create natural offense for himself but can have lapses on the defensive side of the ball. Juzang weighs more than Fournier, so he should be able to hold his own in the post where Fournier may struggle. Fournier is a proven 3-point shooter and knockdown mid-range player, both qualities that Juzang has. If Juzang can develop on defense, he should have a lengthy NBA career ahead of him.
NBA Draft Projection
Late-first round to mid-second round.
