As part of our coverage leading up to the 2015 NBA Draft we will provide profiles of more than 60 prospects, including video interviews with each player, what they're saying leading up to draft day as well as their potential fit on the Bulls.
Dakari Johnson, C, Kentucky
7'0" | 265 lbs. | 19 years old
2014-15 stats:
6.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 50.6 field-goal percentage
Projection:
Second round
NBA
Quotable:
"I thought about it a lot. There was a lot of thinking going into it. But my mom and coach Cal said either way I go, I'll be fine. I'll have to continue to work hard. I'm just living out my dream. I've had this dream since I was 8 years old, so this is very exciting."
Fit for the Bulls:
Johnson is big, and he enters the NBA Draft fresh off a dream season that came two wins from finishing as one of the best in the history of college basketball. Kentucky was as loaded as a team can be this past season, losing in the Final Four and coming just two wins shy from becoming the first undefeated champion in college hoops since the 1970s. Now seven members of the Super Wildcats are in the NBA Draft, and Johnson should hear his name called. You can't teach height, and Johnson has seven feet of it. But he won't be drafted on his college stats. He averaged just more than 16 minutes a game, and he posted scoring and rebounding totals in line with that amount of playing time. Many made statistical sacrifices on that Kentucky team, and it shows the dedication to winning that NBA team ought to like. But it also hid plenty of what each player's game might contain. Johnson's status as a big man might mean a pass by the Bulls, who are pretty well stocked in the frontcourt with Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic. Plus, the Bulls are looking to improve on the offensive end under new head coach Fred Hoiberg and might be going the scorer route in the draft.