Scouting Reports: Barnes, Johnson, Moody
2021 NBA Draft Scouting Reports on Scottie Barnes, Jalen Johnson and Moses Moody
Every week I will be rolling out in-depth scouting reports on the top prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft.
I’ll go in-depth on player strengths, weaknesses, statistical strengths and weaknesses, and rank key player attributes for each player.
This week I tackle picks No. 9, 10 and 13 on my Big Board 4.0: Florida State’s Scottie Barnes, Duke’s Jalen Johnson and Arkansas’ Moses Moody
Scottie Barnes
W, FLORIDA STATE, FRESHMAN
Age 19.7 | 6'9" | 227 | Wingspan: 7’2”
Birthdate: August 1, 2001
Bottom line: Barnes is one of the more unique prospects I’ve scouted. Finding a comp for him is challenging. Scouts who love him (a handful think he is a top-5 prospect) invoke the names of Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, Kawhi Leonard and Ben Simmons -- ridiculously huge shoes to fill. Those that aren’t as enamored worry that what Barnes does best -- playmaking and providing defensive versatility -- will be overshadowed by what he doesn’t do ... at least not yet. Will he be enough of an offensive threat -- as a shooter or a scorer -- to be a star?
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Scottie Barnes here
Jalen Johnson
F, DUKE, FRESHMAN
Age 19.3 | 6'9" | 220 |
Birthdate: Dec 18, 2001
Bottom line: Johnson is another unique prospect who possesses guard-like tools in a power forward’s frame. His athleticism, strength and size as a wing are intriguing. However, to maximize his pro potential, he’s going to have to develop a go-to jump shot and add more creativity to his game. The fact that he played just 13 games for Duke -- and the team struggled during his time there -- raises questions as well. His draft stock is fairly volatile at the moment. Some scouts still see him as a potential top-7 or top-8 pick. Others have him on the lottery bubble.
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Jalen Johnson here
Moses Moody
W, ARKANSAS, FRESHMAN
Age 18.9 | 6'6" | 205 |
Birthdate: May 31, 2002
Bottom line: Moody checks a lot of boxes when it comes to 3-and-D wings. He is long, has a good 3-point shot and can defend on and off the ball. Those tools make him a less risky prospect than other players in this range, with a higher floor. However, his lack of elite athletic tools limits his ceiling significantly on both ends of the floor. He’s going to need to be close to a 40% 3-point shooter with significant volume to maximize his value in the NBA.
Read the FULL SCOUTING REPORT on Moses Moody here
You can find the full collection of 2021 NBA Draft Scouting Reports here