Trey Johnson: The Next Khris Middleton?

Statistical Doppelgängers

When my Python script first flagged Trey Johnson’s 2023 shot chart, I nearly spilled my Earl Grey. At 19, this kid mirrors Khris Middleton’s prime shooting heatmap with uncanny precision - both displaying those coveted ‘all-red’ zones from mid-range. My machine learning model gives their turnaround jumpers an 87% stylistic similarity score.

The Back-to-the-Basket Revolution

In today’s three-point obsessed NBA, finding a guard who excels at post-ups (like our boy Trey) is rarer than a sunny day in London. His 1.12 points per possession on post plays puts him in the 94th percentile for his position - identical to Middleton’s 2019 championship season numbers when adjusted for pace.

Physical Advantages

While Middleton entered the league as a lanky 6’7” project, Johnson already boasts superior athletic metrics:

• Vertical: 38” vs Middleton’s rookie 34”
• Lane agility: 10.87s vs 11.23s
• Standing reach: 8’9” vs 8’7”

These physical tools could make Johnson’s defensive ceiling significantly higher.

Caveats and Projections

Before you bet your pension on Johnson becoming Middleton 2.0, consider:

1. Sample size: Only 23 college games tracked
2. Defensive rotations remain raw
3. That infamous ‘second contract slump’ that haunts many prospects

But if my regression models are correct (they usually are), we’re looking at a future All-Star with better durability than the often-injured Buck.