Brice Johnson is headed to Los Angeles.
The 6-foot-11, 209-pound forward — who was projected anywhere from the late first round to early in the second round — was selected No. 25 in Thursday's NBA Draft in Brooklyn, making him the highest-selected Tar Heel since Harrison Barnes was drafted No. 7 by the Golden State Warriors in 2012.
After averaging a team-leading 17.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game in the 2015-16 season, the senior earned consensus first-team All-America honors and led North Carolina to its first championship appearance since 2009.
Despite his collegiate success, concerns about Johnson's strength and shooting ability pushed the 21-year-old out of the lottery and into the back end of the first round.
But Johnson's elite athleticism and rebounding prowess netted him a selection by Los Angeles, where his explosive ability at the rim and agility for his size could be an ideal fit with the Clippers' high-flying offensive attack.
