Louisville basketball: Evaluating the performance of the Cards freshmen

David Johnson – Guard

Grade: B+

David Johnson gets the highest grade marking from me because of the way he has changed the makeup and outlook of his position on this team already, even after missing months of practice and games.

I watched DJ live and in person a couple of times in his senior year at Louisville Trinity High School, and I can tell you that the amount of training and correcting he has put forth since that time is mind-boggling, and to be thrust into the Louisville fan-engineered “savior” role at the PG position as a freshman, I simply have no words for the amount of pressure that must be.

What I admire most about Johnson is his sleeky fearlessly when attacking the basket, and yes he has made and missed some bunnies around the rim recently, but I assure you, this young man sees the floor extremely well and his basketball IQ is off the charts for a player his age.

His tool kit was on full display the night the Cards faced Duke on the road in a rowdy environment. Johnson dropped 19 points and changed the entire dynamic of the contest in what is now known as his breakout game.

Expect to see an uptick in minutes as the season progresses, because a player of his size at that position is rare. He absolutely fits the mold of Chris Mack player brawn.

Some readers will inevitably baste the comments section with displeasure over the fact that I haven’t awarded any of these players an A. They’ll say I didn’t give a fair shake. They’ll claim if Mack played the freshmen more then this would be an entirely different article, and perhaps you’re right.

I’d love to write another one just like this one in March, only with each player improving ever so slightly.