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2016 NBA Draft: Players with Most to Gain in NCAA Tournament

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 16, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) signs autographs during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men
Mar 16, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Indiana Hoosiers guard Yogi Ferrell (11) signs autographs during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men /
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Mar 16, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) dunks the ball during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men
Mar 16, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Brice Johnson (11) dunks the ball during a practice day before the first round of the NCAA men /

Brice Johnson, North Carolina Tar Heels

Prospect Rank: No. 26

Position: Power Forward

Age: 21 (6/27/1994)

Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’9.5″, 230 pounds, 6’11”

Slash Line: .614/.000/.772

Season Averages: 27.3 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 2.9 ORPG, 1.5 APG, 1.3 BPG, 1.1 SPG

Since arriving at the University of North Carolina, Brice Johnson has been living and dying by the term, “Upside.” The explosive power forward has impressed all who have witnessed his athleticism, but hasn’t done enough to suggest he’s ready to play in the NBA.

As a senior, Johnson has silenced the critics and emerged as one of the most productive players in all of college basketball.

North Carolina enters the 2016 NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed, which means an early exit would reflect quite negatively on Johnson. He’s emerged as the star of the show, and while Marcus Paige is still the crunch-time playmaker, it’s Johnson who’s on the NBA Draft radar.

An explosive leaper with a small wingspan, Johnson needs to win as many critics over as possible with his play on the grandest stage in college basketball.

Johnson’s numbers speak for themselves; marks of 16.6 points and 10.6 rebounds on 61.4 percent shooting from the field are collectively ridiculous. He’s just as great of a rebounder as the statistics imply, and with the additional ability to finish above the rim, he has the tools to be a pick-and-roll player at the next level.

If Johnson is able to continue his development as an offensive threat, and North Carolina makes it to, at least, the Elite Eight, he could enter the Top 15 discussion.

Next: A Necessary Reminder