Clippers Draft North Carolina's Brice Johnson With 25th Pick
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers selected North Carolina power forward Brice Johnson with the No. 25 overall pick of the NBA draft on Thursday night.
They selected another power forward with their second-round pick, taking Kansas' Cheick Diallo at No. 33 overall.
Johnson, 21, averaged 17.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a senior for the Tar Heels last season. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound forward was a consensus first team All-America selection last season and the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA East Regional.
Johnson pulled down a school-record 23 double-doubles last season and became the fifth UNC player to average a double-double for a season. He also became the first Tar Heel to score 20 points and grab 10 rebounds in three consecutive NCAA Tournament games.
Johnson increased his scoring and rebounding averages every season at UNC. He shot 57.5 percent from the floor in his career and 70.8 percent from the free throw line.
Johnson is expected to back up All-Star power forward Blake Griffin, the only power forward the Clippers have signed for next season. Last year's reserve big men Jeff Green, Luc Mbah a Moute, Wesley Johnson and Cole Aldrich are all scheduled to become free agents.
Diallo will add further frontcourt depth. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward played sparingly in his one year with the Jayhawks, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 7.5 minutes per game.
The NCAA suspended Diallo for five games to open the season for receiving a limited amount of impermissible benefits.
The No. 25 pick tied for the highest the Clippers have drafted since 2010. The last time they had the No. 25 pick they took another North Carolina player, shooting guard Reggie Bullock in 2013. The No. 33 pick was their highest second-round selection since 2005.
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