Ex-UD star Chris Johnson drawing NBA's interest

Chris Johnson' statistics at UD:

Chris Johnson, the University of Dayton basketball standout, has been on a whirlwind tour of NBA cities. He’s in Portland today, has been interviewed and worked out by Washington, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City, Detroit and Phoenix, and has visits booked with the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State, Indiana and Charlotte.

Johnson, who averaged 12.4 points and 6.4 rebounds last season, was measured at 6-foot-3 ½ in socks (he was listed at UD at 6-6), but teams are intrigued by his athleticism and pterodactyl wingspan of 6-11.

His ball-handling is considered suspect for a projected 2 guard, but he was named one of the top-10 NBA prospects along with Alabama’s JaMychal Green and Cincinnati’s Yancy Gates out of 64 seniors at the Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational in April.

“The only thing I ask is to have an opportunity, to show these teams what I’m capable of. I think everything will take care of itself after that,” said Johnson, who has spent the last month training in New York City.

“I’m excited but nervous at the same time — just like everybody else.”

ESPN draft guru Chad Ford saw Johnson in a training session in New York and wrote that the player “showed off a really sweet stroke” and added that “a number of teams have shown some interest in him as a possible second-round pick” in the June 28 draft.

“I know I’m an energy guy, so I’m providing energy and playing hard,” Johnson said.

“I’m a shut-down defender at my position, and I’m just doing the things I was doing at Dayton, but picking it up with a little more intensity.”

UD coach Archie Miller has been fielding calls from NBA teams and has encouraged them to take a chance on the 2010 NIT most valuable player.

“He’s had a great career, and most guys who get to work him out are really going to understand who he is and what he can do,” Miller said.

“From a strength standpoint, coming in the door, they’re going to look at him as a guy who can make some shots, a guy who can defend and a guy who can really rebound for his position — and one who’s absolutely going to be a home-run addition to a locker room.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.