With the new NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement in place, there is even greater pressure on teams to add young talent and depth to their roster through the draft due to their affordability in terms of the salary cap.

Thanks in part to the NBA lockout, many college prospects that were ready for the NBA last season stayed an extra year in school. Combined with the high talent level of this season’s freshman class and this has the potential be the deepest overall draft class since 1996.

Amongst that depth of talent is UC Santa Barbara's Orlando Johnson, a fifth-year senior who is currently projected to be an early second round pick. 

Johnson has the physical makeup of an NBA player at 6’5”, 220 lbs, with a 7’0” wingspan and the ability to score in a variety of ways by shooting from beyond the arc, posting up smaller guards, and by penetrating the lane. Johnson’s height also makes him an effective rebounder for a shooting guard reminiscent of Landry Fields and Jason Richardson.

In his final year at UCSB, scouts mentioned his improved ball handling, shot selection and ability to run the pick-and-roll.

I caught up with Johnson for an interview reflecting on his time at UCSB, playing on Team USA and in Kevin Durant and LeBron James’ camps, and how he grew personally from a college freshman into a 23-year-old about to embark on a professional basketball career.

Johnson began by explaining the important role of his family that helped him grow off the court.

“Growing up with my brothers raising me and them always having such a big influence on my life made me more mature then a lot more people, especially my peers growing up,” said Johnson.

With the support of his brothers to guide him, Johnson was prepared to make his mark on UCSB after transferring from Loyola Marymount in 2009.

During Johnson’s three years at UCSB, he became one of the top shooting guards in the country, averaging 19.6 points, nearly six rebounds, and three assists per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 41 percent from three.

Yet, despite putting up big time numbers, Johnson felt he wasn’t getting the attention his game warranted.

“I would say my first two years maybe I was overlooked a little bit,” said Johnson. “People didn’t really hear too much about me. I feel like last year and my junior year I really put myself out there and people started to know my name a little bit and I think I just took it to a whole other level.”

The other level Johnson’s referring to is his time as a member of the U.S. National Team for the World University Games and playing in Kevin Durant and LeBron James’ basketball camps.

“I think I did more than hold my own out there and showed people why I’m considered one of the best players in college basketball,” said Johnson. “Also playing with Team USA I got a chance to play against some of the best college players to make the team.”

For scouts and NBA executives that question the level of Johnson’s competition in college while playing in the Big West Conference, Johnson urges them to look at his total body of work.

“Playing with Team USA, I got a chance to play against some of the best college players to make the team,” said Johnson. “If they have any questions about that look at my background and they could just check my stats and when I played in big games I always produce. It didn’t matter who I was playing, I always would bring out my best effort.”

Additionally, scouts tend to believe players his age have less room remaining for significant improvement, but Johnson doesn’t see that as a negative.

“I feel my maturity is something that is a positive for me and coaches talking to me know I’m a professional already in all aspects of my life and that I’m ready to take care of business. I know at 23, I’m ready to step in there and contribute right now and make an impact on whatever team picks me up.”

According to Johnson, he also feels scouts and executives should look at what he can bring to a team as an all-around player immediately on the court.

“I feel like my versatility has always been one of my greatest attributes with my size,” said Johnson. “The versatility and opportunities I had at Santa Barbara have helped me a lot with being able to play the point, shooting guard, small forward and having to defend all those positions has helped me out a lot as well."

Johnson acknowledges that he won’t play a starring role in the NBA right away, but is more than happy to start out in a supporting role.

“I already have the mindset going in that I’m going to have to work for everything. It’s just starting over again just how it was when I first got into college.

“I have to be able to come in and make an impact whether it be offensively, defensively, setting somebody up, and just bringing energy. I have to be the guy that comes in and makes something happen,” said Johnson.

The credit for Johnson’s improvement as a student of the game goes to Matt Painter and Team USA.

“Coach Painter was big on defining our roles, we all couldn’t be scorers and everybody get 20 (points) even though we could, everybody had to buy into their role and I think that was big for me learning this year,” said Johnson.

Johnson is now working on developing all phases of his game with his training staff.

“Right now, I’m working on my quickness and my body,” said Johnson. “I think that’s something that a lot of GM’s and other people want to see whether I’d be able to adjust. I’m getting quicker, I’m a lot quicker now than I was during the season.”

That improved quickness will help Johnson become a better defender.

“Defense has been a priority for me. I’ve just been focused all year to just show people that I’m ready to be at the next level. I feel like a lot of people question my defense, but going into these workouts people are going to see that the defense is there and I’m ready to contribute,” said Johnson.

For players like Johnson from small conferences, the individual and group workouts are of even greater importance.

“I just want to show them that what they’re getting is one of the best college players in the game,” said Johnson. “If they’re looking for someone that’s mature and physically ready and a professional, then I think that will solidify me as a first round pick. I know my skill set and my work ethic is going to carry me a long way and show that I’m ready to be a first round selection." 

As Johnson moves on from his second home at UCSB, he’s looking forward to finding a new home in an NBA city.

“If the team really loves my game and thinks I’m a fit for them then that’s where I want to be. I really want to be somewhere where they think I can contribute and make an impact right away. That’s what I’m looking forward to in this draft process,” said Johnson.