2019 NBA Draft: 4 Terrific 3-Point Shooters for Atlanta Hawks
By Chris Guest
Cam Johnson, Mid-First Round
Let’s start off with the only player on this list who is expected to be a first-round 2019 NBA draft pick.
Cam Johnson out of North Carolina produced an absolutely spectacular three-point shooting campaign in his final year in the NCAA – shooting a striking 45.7 percent from long range on 5.8 attempts per game with a 50.4 percent three-point attempt rate.
According to Bart Torvik, of the 100 players that attempted at least 175 three-pointers in the 2018-19 NCAA men’s basketball season, Johnson ranked 4th overall with that lofty 45.7 clip from deep. Notably, 92.7 percent of those made triples were assisted, and they accounted for 50.2 percent of Johnson’s made baskets.
The most notable element of Johnson’s three-point shooting is just how tall he is. Though no one would dare to compare Johnson to one of the greatest scorers of all time, Kevin Durant, Johnson’s ability to rise up over smaller defenders with his lanky 6-foot-9 frame and 6-foot-10 wingspan is somewhat reminiscent of the Slim Reaper’s “shoot over the top of you” ability.
Furthermore, Johnson shot a sterling 46.3 percent (better than his overall three-point percentage) on NBA-range three-pointers per The Stepien, so Johnson would be able to immediately come in and drain jumpers with relative ease.
Though this is a three-point shooting article, it must be noted that Johnson was also an efficient scorer around the rim per Bart Torvik: 71.3 percent at-rim shooting on a 22.5 at-rim frequency.