Projected anywhere between 58th to 20th in various publications, Illawarra Hawks’ Next Star AJ Johnson was a true wild card for the 2024 NBA Draft. 

After numerous impressive workouts with NBA teams a standout performance at the Combine, Johnson catapulted himself into first-round contention for the NBA Draft on Thursday – eventually selected 23rd overall by the Milwaukee Bucks. 

General Manager of Next Stars Recruitment Liam Santamaria said Johnson had been considered a potential first-round pick as far as back as April last year, when he signed with the Illawarra Hawks.

“I've always felt like AJ was a first-round pick,” Santamaria said on NBL Now. 

“He had a bit of a difficult time transitioning and handling the physicality and the physical nature of a big pro league, but it doesn't change the fact that he was an 18-year-old then, is a 19-year-old now, and he's just dripping with potential, upside and talent.”

Santamaria said the Hawks struggled to find the perfect fit for Johnson. Despite this, he showed his flexibility in an ever-changing role by displaying with regular glimpses of his athleticism, impressive shooting and dramatically improved defence throughout NBL24. 

Quite simply, Johnson has incredible upside.

“We always kind of knew that he was going to be a riser in the pre-draft process,” Santamaria said. 

“He was going to look good in workouts, he was going to interview well and intel on him was always going to be really solid.” 

Santamaria explained that Johnson’s pre-draft trial with the Bucks “blew them away,” solidifying his spot as the 23rd overall pick days later, showing star potential at the NBA Draft Combine. 

“There was a sense that Milwaukee was a team that was really high on AJ,” Santamaria said. 

“So that's why there was an air of expectation on the night when it got to pick 23. And then when Adam Silver read out his name, there was great excitement.”

Johnson was one of four NBL Next Stars to be drafted to NBA teams, alongside Alex Sarr (pick 2), Bobi Klintman (pick 37) and Ariel Hukporti (pick 58). 

Trentyn Flowers was signed by the Los Angeles Clippers barely hours after the Draft.