Skip to content

Tennessee's Johnson will hire agent, enter NBA draft

Joe Robbins/NCAA Photos / NCAA Photos / Getty

Tennessee freshman guard Keon Johnson will hire an agent and enter the 2021 NBA draft, thereby forgoing the rest of his college eligibility, he told ESPN's Jonathan Givony.

A projected lottery pick, ESPN ranked Johnson as the sixth-best prospect in the next draft.

"The NBA has always been my goal, but I never expected it to come this soon," he told Givony. "I really don't care what number I get drafted at. I just want to go somewhere I fit in that organization. Where I can keep developing and find my niche."

The 19-year-old registered 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this past season with the Volunteers. He became a permanent fixture in Tennessee's starting lineup in January after coming off the bench in 10 of his first 11 games following a meniscus injury in his high school senior year. He helped the Volunteers finish fourth in the SEC and reach the conference tournament's semifinals.

Johnson was a consensus five-star recruit in 2019. He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team this season.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox