Just as UCLA men’s basketball summer session has begun, an alumnus will embark on a separate journey on the red carpets of the 2025 NBA Draft. Kobe Johnson, who came to Westwood in 2024 after three seasons with USC, will now have the opportunity to go in the first or second round of the Draft, which will commence Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

But even if the guard doesn’t hear his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, he could be a sought-after undrafted free agent. If drafted, Johnson will join a long list of Bruins on the professional hardwood. Fourteen players have been drafted in the last ten years, with the most recent being Philadelphia 76ers center Adem Bona.

Kobe Johnson, guard
Player Comparison: Andre Jackson Jr.
Projection: Round 2, Pick 57 (Orlando Magic)

Johnson did a little bit of everything. And he did it well.

Despite starting in all 34 games this past season, Johnson posted just 7.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game – a step down from his 10.9 points and 3.3 assists per game the previous year. However, his numbers on paper didn’t speak to the impact he had on the court for the Bruins. Not only did he lead the team with 1.6 steals per game, but he also ranked sixth in the Big Ten in that metric.

After earning back-to-back All-Pac-12 Defensive Team honors at USC, Johnson proved to be the defensive stalwart integral to coach Mick Cronin’s defensive scheme. Johnson posted 55 steals and nine blocks across last year, tripling down on conference honors when he was named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team.

Measuring at 6 feet 6 inches and 200 pounds, Johnson has the tangibles to defend one through five on the court, utilizing his speed and athleticism to take on guards and his height and strength to oppose frontcourt players.

It was his athleticism and tenacity that helped him lead the team in rebounds, including a team-high 61 total offensive rebounds. And it is what Johnson does off the ball that may make him most enticing to NBA franchises.

The potential draftee finished his senior campaign shooting 46.4% from the field and 36.2% from three – both improvements from the 40.4% and 31.3% clips he posted as a junior. Johnson has the potential to be a valuable spark plug off and catch-and-shoot option who can play alongside lead guards in the NBA.

Johnson’s defensive game will likely translate cleanly to the league as well, as his speed and athleticism should enable him to be a solid “3 and D” bench option who can guard an oversized guard or undersized wing.

Apart from his strength and speed, Johnson also boasts the intangible – leadership. Cronin turned to Johnson to lead the team as a veteran senior who was formerly a two-time captain for the Trojans.

And even though Johnson earns his stripes for his effort off the ball, he still ranked second on the team with 100 total assists, nine fewer than former Bruin guard Dylan Andrews.

Scoring prowess may be one of the biggest question marks surrounding the potential draftee, as Johnson sometimes struggles to find a consistent jump shot –he ended the season with only one double-digit game in his last seven performances.

However, his low scoring numbers could be attributed to his lack of volume. Johnson took just over six shots per game, as opposed to the 10.1 he averaged the prior year. Despite this, Johnson still tallied 13 double-digit performances, including 12 points against Gonzaga.

Johnson currently ranks as the 78th prospect in this year’s ESPN Top 100 Big Board. And while there are only 59 picks in the NBA Draft, Johnson embodies the build and skill set necessary to fill missing gaps on professional rosters.

While he may not pass the stats test, he does pass the eye test and could hear his name called in the late-second round when NBA championship caliber teams are looking to find a glue guy.