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Pacers draft Alize Johnson with No. 50 pick

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With the No. 50 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected Missouri State forward Alize Johnson.

A late physical bloomer, Johnson stood just 5-foot-9 as a high school freshman and 6-foot-4 heading into college, garnering no Division 1 offers. A growth spurt literally elevated his potential at the next level, however, allowing him to transfer from Frank Phillips Community College to Missouri State for his junior and senior years.

The 22-year-old now stands 6-foot-8, and leveraged his newfound size to 14.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game in 66 appearances at the D-I level. Johnson was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference in both his junior and senior year.

Alize Johnson bio

Position: SF, PF
School: Frank Phillips Community College, Missouri State
College Experience: Senior
Height: 6-foot-8
Weight: 216 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-9
Max Vertical: N/A

What the analysts are saying

  • "He's adept at grabbing the ball off the glass and pushing in transition, allowing his teammates to run the floor as he initiates. Johnson's ability to attack the basket in space and make the right pass shines in the open floor, and that's where much of his intrigue stems from." - Jeremy Woo, Sports Illustrated.
  • "He feels like the type of player who could be an all-star at a lower level of play but who just doesn't translate well to the NBA. Of course, if he irons out his jumper it could be a much different story." - Jackson Hoy, The Stepien.

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