Duke freshman forward Jalen Johnson is choosing to opt out of the rest of the season with the Duke Blue Devils and prepare for the NBA draft.
“I appreciate everything about my time at Duke. Coach (Mike Krzyzewski), my teammates and the program have been nothing but supportive throughout this season especially during the rehab of my foot injury,” Johnson said in a Duke news release on February 15th.
Johnson is projected to be a top 10 pick in the NBA draft and the No. 6 best prospect in ESPN’s 2021 NBA Mock Draft. He has had limited playing time because of a foot injury, causing him to play a total of only 13 games this season and averaging 11.2 points and 6.1 rebounds a game.
Sources say Johnson cleared out his locker. “It’s a sad message because all of you become like brothers because of the shared experiences that you have of getting ready for the season, the wins, the losses, the camaraderie. Then all of a sudden you pull the plug and now it brings into question the very essence of The Brotherhood,” said retired NBA player LaPhonso Ellis.
“He wasn’t really a good fit for this Duke team, and that’s why you saw the inconsistency of Jalen Johnson. I just never thought they were able to use him to the fullest of his skill ability,” Ellis added.
This decision to opt out is a bold statement and could potentially encourage other players to take alternate routes rather than sticking to college ball.
Do you think this was a good decision for Johnson? We will have to wait and see but leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Postgame Reports 