Sun Prairie’s Jalen Johnson hits a basket in overtime. Sun Prairie High School played Brookfield East in the Division 1 semifinal game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin Friday, March 16, 2018. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson's dunk pulls the backboard out of alignment, causing a suspension in play as La Follette takes on Sun Prairie in Wisconsin high school boys basketball on Jan. 11, 2018, at Sun Prairie High School. Johnson scored a game-high 22 points on 11 field goals in the Cardinals' victory.
Jalen Johnson’s time playing men’s basketball at Duke University has ended during his freshman season.
Johnson now has set his sights on the NBA.
Duke forward Johnson — a former prep standout at Sun Prairie and Glendale Nicolet — announced he will forgo the rest of this freshman season and declare of the 2021 NBA draft, according to a release from Duke on Monday night.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Johnson is currently ranked as the No. 6 NBA draft prospect by ESPN.com.
Johnson played in 13 games at Duke, including eight starts. He was third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.2 points per game, and second in rebounding (6.1 boards per game).
"I appreciate everything about my time at Duke," Johnson said in a statement. "Coach K, my teammates and the program have been nothing but supportive throughout this season, especially during the rehab of my foot injury.
“My family, Coach and I have made the decision that I should not play the remainder of this season so I can be 100 percent healthy in preparation for the NBA Draft. This was not easy but we feel it's best for my future. I have nothing but love for the Brotherhood and thank my teammates and everyone associated with the program. Duke will always have a special place in my heart and will always be a part of me."
Johnson chose Duke over the University of Wisconsin, Kentucky and Arizona in July, 2019.
"While we are encouraged by what we are seeing medically, for Jalen's future, we believe this decision is in his best interest," Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said in the release.
"We are ultimately careful with every one of our players and will continue to support Jalen as he progresses toward his goal of playing professional basketball. He deserves to be fully healthy for the upcoming NBA Draft."
Johnson opened his Duke career with a 19-point, 19-rebound game against Coppin State. He was 8-for-8 from the field, which set a Duke freshman record for most points in a game on 100% shooting.
He was bothered by a foot injury this season. Johnson missed several games at the beginning of his sophomore season at Sun Prairie with a left foot injury, which he said was a stress fracture, and returned in the Cardinals’ seventh game the 2017-18 season.
He missed three games with the foot injury this season. He returned with an outstanding game at Pittsburgh, totaling 24 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and four blocked shots, with no turnovers. He twice was named Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Week. He was the ACC's second-leading freshman scorer to teammate D.J. Steward.
His decision came after he played eight minutes and scored three points in Duke’s 69-53 victory over North Carolina State on Saturday. Initial reports Monday indicated Johnson was “opting out” of his freshman season.
Johnson helped lead Sun Prairie to the 2018 WIAA Division 1 state semifinals in boys basketball during his sophomore season prior to transferring to Nicolet with his younger brother, Kobe Johnson.
Jalen Johnson earned first-team all-state honors and was The Associated Press boys basketball player of the year as a junior, while helping Nicolet win the Division 2 championship in March, 2019, at the Kohl Center.
Johnson attended IMG Academy in Florida and Nicolet as a senior.
The Blue Devils have had at least one player selected in 33 of 40 drafts under Krzyzewski, who has tutored a total of 67 draft picks since taking over the Duke program, including a draft-record 41 first-round selections, according to the Duke release.
Photos: Lock back at Jalen Johnson's career so far
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson has his shot blocked by Janesville Craig's Adam Anhold during the first half of a game in Sun Prairie, Wis., Jan. 26, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Janesville 71-64.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson dunks the ball during the second half of a game against Janesville Craig in Sun Prairie, Wis., Jan. 26, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Janesville 71-64.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson dunks the ball during the second half of a game against Janesville Craig in Sun Prairie, Wis., Jan. 26, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Janesville 71-64.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson is fouled by Janesville Craig's Jack Blomgren on a fast break during the second half of a game in Sun Prairie, Wis., Jan. 26, 2017. Johnson made the basket and the subsequent free throw with under 2 minutes remaining in the game. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Janesville 71-64.
Sun Prairie’s Jalen Johnson scores on a drive as Madison Memorial’s Jake Ferguson, left, and Matt Caropreso defend during the first half of a game in Sun Prairie, Wis., Feb. 9, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Madison Memorial 65-54.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson follows through on a three-point shot over Madison Memorial's Logan Knecht during the first half of a game in Sun Prairie, Wis., Feb. 9, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Madison Memorial 65-54.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson drives the baseline against Madison Memorial during the first half of a game in Sun Prairie, Wis., Feb. 9, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Madison Memorial 65-54.
With timeout called, Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson, center, celebrates an emphatic dunk with teammates Marty Strey, left, and Sean Suchomel during the second half of a game against Madison Memorial in Sun Prairie, Wis., Feb. 9, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Madison Memorial 65-54.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson shoots over Madison East's Earl Lewis in the second half of a Big Eight Conference game at Madison East High School in Madison, Wis., Dec. 21, 2017. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Madison East 64-56.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson drives past La Follette's Troy Reeves as La Follette falls to Sun Prairie Jan. 11, 2018, at Sun Prairie High School.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson shoots a free throw as La Follette falls to Sun Prairie Jan. 11, 2018, at Sun Prairie High School.
Sun Prairie sophomore forward Jalen Johnson, a first-team all-Big Eight Conference selection, delivers a dunk against Madison La Follette in the Cardinals’ victory in January 2018.
Madison Memorial's Jack Krumbach attempts a shot against Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson in the first half of a Big Eight Conference game at Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wis., Feb. 8, 2018. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Madison Memorial 41-32.
Sun Prairie's Jalen Johnson looks for a pass around Madison Memorial's Amaree Howard in the second half of a Big Eight Conference game at Madison Memorial High School in Madison, Wis., Feb. 8, 2018. Sun Prairie went on to defeat Madison Memorial 41-32.
Brookfield East’s Peyton Simon tries to move around Sun Prairie’s Jalen Johnson in the first half of the Division 1 semifinal game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., March 16, 2018. Brookfield East went on to defeat Sun Prairie 52-50 in overtime.
Brookfield East’s Peyton Simon looks towards the basket while defended by Sun Prairie’s Jalen Johnson in the first half of the Division 1 semifinal game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., March 16, 2018. Brookfield East went on to defeat Sun Prairie 52-50 in overtime.
Brookfield East’s Patrick Cartier is guarded by Sun Prairie’s Jalen Johnson in the second half of the Division 1 semifinal game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., March 16, 2018. Brookfield East went on to defeat Sun Prairie 52-50 in overtime.
Sun Prairie’s Jalen Johnson hits a basket in overtime. Sun Prairie High School played Brookfield East in the Division 1 semifinal game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin Friday, March 16, 2018. STEVE APPS, STATE JOURNAL
Sun Prairie’s Jalen Johnson and Brookfield East’s Michael Poker fight for a loose ball in overtime of the Division 1 semifinal game at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., March 16, 2018. Brookfield East went on to defeat Sun Prairie 52-50 in overtime.
Glendale Nicolet's Jalen Johnson soars over Milwaukee Washington's Michael Foster Jr. for a dunk in the first half of the WIAA Division 2 state boys basketball final at the Kohl Center on March 16, 2019. Nicolet went on to defeat Milwaukee Washington 67-52.
Jalen Johnson earned first-team all-state honors and was The Associated Press boys basketball player of the year as a junior, while helping Nicolet win the Division 2 championship March 16, 2019, at the Kohl Center.
Pittsburgh's Au'diese Toney shoots as Duke's Jalen Johnson defends during the first half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
Duke's Jalen Johnson dunks during the first half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh's Abdoul Karim Coulibaly defends as Duke's Jalen Johnson shoots during the second half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
Duke's Jalen Johnson, center, passes the ball over his shoulder as Pittsburgh's Xavier Johnson, left, and Ithiel Horton defend during the second half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh's Xavier Johnson, left, shoots over Duke's Jalen Johnson during the second half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh's Au'diese Toney passes after getting by Duke's Jalen Johnson during the first half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
Duke's Jalen Johnson goes up for a shot during the second half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
Duke's Jalen Johnson gets a rebound in front of Pittsburgh's Justin Champagnie during the first half of Duke's 79-73 loss to Pittsburgh Jan. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh.
