Former Duke star Jalen Johnson can benefit most from great showing at NBA Combine - 247Sports

Later this week, NBA Draft hopefuls will gather in Chicago for the 2021 NBA Combine. One of the players who needs to have a good showing is former Duke Blue Devil Jalen Johnson.

Johnson was a five-star recruit in Duke's 2020 signing class, but he only played in 13 games last season before leaving the team. Because of that, CBS Sports college basketball analyst Gary Parrish believes Johnson has to prove himself at the combine. If Johnson can win over scouts in Chicago, he could cement himself as a first-round pick later this year.

"Jalen Johnson was a projected lottery pick coming out of high school, and he might still get picked within that range in the 2021 NBA Draft," Parrish writes. "We'll find out July 29. But there is no getting around the fact that he quit his team at Duke the moment his minutes were slashed after consecutive subpar performances, and that has to be a possible point of concern for front offices trying to decide which player is worth their first-round pick and the millions of dollars tied to it."

In Johnson's 13 games played with the Blue Devils, he averaged 11.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. His biggest game came on the road against Pitt when he went off for 24 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists.

Johnson's time at Duke ended abruptly on Feb. 15, when he and the program announced that he was leaving due to a foot injury. In a statement he released on his decision, Johnson thanked Mike Krzyzewski and the entire Blue Devils team for their support as he recovered from his injury and prepared for the 2021 NBA Draft.

"I appreciate everything about my time at Duke," Johnson said in the release. "Coach K, my teammates and the program have been nothing but supportive throughout this season, especially during the rehab of my foot injury. My family, Coach and I have made the decision that I should not play the remainder of this season so I can be 100 percent healthy in preparation for the NBA Draft. This was not easy but we feel it's best for my future. I have nothing but love for the Brotherhood and thank my teammates and everyone associated with the program. Duke will always have a special place in my heart and will always be a part of me."

Krzyzewski also released a statement on Johnson's departure. The Duke head coach stood behind Johnson and his desire to get healthy before the draft.

"While we are encouraged by what we are seeing medically, for Jalen's future, we believe this decision is in his best interest," Krzyzewski said in the release. "We are ultimately careful with every one of our players and will continue to support Jalen as he progresses toward his goal of playing professional basketball. He deserves to be fully healthy for the upcoming NBA Draft."

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The 2021 NBA Draft will begin on Thursday, July 29, and we'll find out if Johnson did enough to become a first-round pick then.