Get To Know Keshad Johnson, Oakland's Finest
The Joe Craft Center is in tip-top shape today as Kentucky Basketball welcomes a special visitor to town from out West. The guest, Keshad Johnson, is considering the University of Kentucky for his next home in college basketball, a month removed from an NCAA Tournament runner-up finish with the San Diego State Aztecs in which the slashing forward scored fourteen points with four rebounds and an assist in the loss to Connecticut.
A senior, Johnson announced he would leave his college of four years for a new home for his super-senior basketball season or leave college altogether to pursue professional opportunities. Suppose the likely scenario is the draft process doesn’t convince him to turn pro. In that case, Johnson will choose a new school from a list of five finalists: Texas Tech, USC, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Kentucky.
The Oakland, California, native visited Arizona earlier this week. He intends to stay in the Bluegrass through Friday, per Travis Branham.
Before Johnson lands on campus, let’s get to know him with 10 Keshad Johnson fast facts.
1. Johnson hails from Oakland, California.
With “Oakland’s Finest” tattooed across his biceps, Johnson is a proud Californian from the Bay Area. A product of San Leandro High School, Johnson committed to staying in the state (albeit eight hours away) at San Diego State for his college basketball experience.
Johnson committed to Brian Dutcher and SDSU in November of 2018 before the start of his high school senior season.
2. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers liked him first.
Though Johnson hails from Northern California, he caught the attention of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the summer before his senior year. Rick Stanbury’s WKU program was one of many teams to extend a scholarship offer to Johnson, along with nearby Cincinnati and several schools out West, including Fresno State, New Mexico, Washington, Portland, Pepperdine, and Nevada.
DePaul and Georgetown also had spots for the three-star wing from the 2018 class, but the Aztecs in San Diego won Johnson over for his four-year college career.
3. He played sparingly in his first two seasons at SDSU.
Johnson entered with high expectations as a freshman, but his time as an Aztec needed patience. As a freshman, the three-star recruit averaged only 5.9 minutes per game with a 1.9 scoring average in the season that ended abruptly. A year later, he came off the bench in 24 of his team’s 28 games in the COVID-restricted season. Johnson averaged four points and under four rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game as a sophomore.
4. He started in every game as a junior and senior.
Johnson’s breakout season came in 2021-22 when he earned San Diego State’s starting role at forward. He started every game at the four with averages of 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, with a Mountain West Player of the Week trophy for his first career double-double against UNLV.
His senior year, Johnson again started in every game through San Diego State’s runner-up finish in the tournament. His current streak is at 71 straight starts over two seasons, including 13 conference and NCAA tournament games in that span.
How’s that for experience?
5. He’s used to sharing minutes.
San Diego State was one of the deepest teams in the country last season, so Johnson is comfortable sharing playing time. After all, he averaged 23 minutes per game in that span of 71 straight starts because the Aztecs played nine guys for more than 15 minutes a game.
Johnson ranked fourth on the team in playing time.
6. Defense is his calling.
Kentucky is drawn to Johnson in the portal because he is a lockdown defender who can guard one through four on the floor, and some fives if necessary. Kentucky will need defense next season, and defense is Johnson’s specialty. He has a rare commitment to it. You can ask Alabama’s Brandon Miller about him. Miller went 3-for-19 in a Sweet 16 loss to Johnson’s Aztecs.
7. Shooting is not his calling.
Nobody’s perfect. Johnson’s weakness is his outside shot. As a junior, he went 6-for-33 for an 18.2 shooting percentage from deep. It got a little better last season with a 26.2 percent clip on 11-of-42 shooting from beyond the arc.
He is an athletic four, but unlikely to stretch the floor as a 3-point threat. He can be a liability at the foul line, too, as a 60 percent career shooter at the line.
8. He saved his best game for the biggest stage.
To be fair to Johnson’s shot, he made seven of nine free throws and his only 3-point try in the national championship game. Johnson scored 14 of San Diego State’s 59 points in 22 minutes under the brightest lights, plus four rebounds, an assist, and no turnovers in defeat.
9. He’s a fun dunker.
Some examples from around the internet:
10. Arizona hosted Johnson last Sunday
The other Wildcats are Kentucky’s top competition for Johnson and he visited Arizona’s campus last weekend while the Bluegrass was recovering from the Kentucky Derby. Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd’s message to Johnson is likely that he needs a new starting power forward, and Johnson seemed to enjoy his tour of the Arizona facilities, according to his social media.
Johnson also visited Oklahoma and USC after entering the transfer portal last month following San Diego State’s loss to UConn.
Today, he begins his tour of Lexington.
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