Meet Stanley Johnson, the Best Two-Way Prospect in the 2015 NBA Draft

Two-way standouts are some of the most sought-after prospects in the NBA draft. Their talent, proficiency and intangibles on both ends of the court are immeasurably valuable.

Arizona's incoming freshman Stanley Johnson fits the bill, and he may be the best two-way player to hear his name called in June.

The 6'7" wing from Fullerton, California, is a strong, dauntless competitor who offers multidimensional offense and stout defensive versatility. He won a record four California state titles at Mater Dei High School, as he constantly showed the knack for adapting to fill his team's needs.

His offensive ceiling isn't as high as speedster Emmanuel Mudiay's, and he might not be as alluring as towers Jahlil Okafor and Karl Towns Jr. But Johnson's versatility and wholesale impact should make him a high lottery pick and a rock-solid addition to one lucky NBA franchise.

Throughout high school, he exponentially expanded his offensive weaponry. He went from a predominantly physical player to someone who can also handle the ball and make finesse plays.

Combining those two gifts makes for a dangerous asset. California's 2014 Mr. Basketball can now facilitate, pass and create his own shot in addition to scoring powerfully in the paint.

Rivals.com National Scout Eric Bossi talked to BallIsLife.com about Johnson's improvement:

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To get to the product Stanley is now, you could see incremental improvement each step of the way. He always had that motor to begin with...then he started to get his ball-handling right, then the jump shot, and then the all-around ball-handling and playmaking came along, and now you've got a complete player.

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Johnson's chiseled 237-pound frame enables him to drive past opponents and then finish strong against challengers around the rim. He's not a freakish athlete who hops to the rafters, but he has plenty of juice in his step. Ample bounce and long arms (6'10.5" wingspan) complement his bruising strength.

Even as a freshman, he'll be one of the most physically imposing wings in college hoops. Watch him shed his perimeter defender and then score through contact off the window:

Johnson's jump shot is not his strong suit, but he's gradually made it a respectable component of his game. During the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 tournament (at which he earned MVP honors), he hit 29 percent from the international three-point line, so he's got significant room for improvement.

His release point is lower than average, and he shoots in front of his forehead. However, he jumps high, shoots with confidence and displays a smooth, quick motion to launch attempts over opponents.

Against college competition, he'll get separation for shots via crossovers, step-backs, hesitation pull-ups and mid-post turnarounds.

As his shooting delivery and form continue to improve, he'll be able to accomplish the same maneuvers in the NBA. He's sturdy enough to score inside via drives and post-ups, and he's skilled enough to operate on the perimeter at a high level.

He doesn't use his ball skills solely for his own benefit, though. Johnson is an unselfish player who can set up his teammates and is always looking for cutters and shooters:

Mater Dei coach Gary McKnight used him as the primary quarterback during his senior year, and it worked out quite well.

"He did a remarkable job playing point guard, distributing the ball," McKnight told BallIsLife.com. "He had to do everything for us to win this year. He made the other four players better players, and they all worked together."

That doesn't mean he'll play point guard in college or the NBA. In fact, Johnson must work on making better decisions and refraining from forcing difficult plays. But his unselfishness and passing ability in high school showed he'll be able to initiate some offense and connect with teammates at the next levels.

As impressive as his offense is, it's fueled by his defense.

"The way I play defense is getting up and pressuring guys, and forcing a lot of stops to get on the break and make transition plays," he told Kevin Zimmerman of SB Nation. "Defense gives you easy offensive opportunities."

Johnson's size, instincts and work ethic make him a nightmare for opponents. Whether he's on the ball or away from it, he reads plays quickly and reacts with great footwork and aggressiveness.

He absolutely dominated FIBA Americas foes, posting the best defensive rating (65.0) of any player in the tournament, per DraftExpress.

B/R NBA Lead Writer Jonathan Wasserman compares him to a blend of Ron Artest (in his prime) and Kawhi Leonard. That's pretty much the ultimate concoction of physicality, ranginess and defensive talent.

Expect him to guard multiple positions in the NBA, including point guards and power forwards. Johnson can slide and steer quick ball-handlers, and he also contains lengthy forwards and effectively contests them at the rim.

A recent incident that illustrated his defensive tenacity and overall competitiveness was his showdown with Arron Afflalo at Adidas Nations.

During a college pickup session at the event, Johnson challenged the Denver Nuggets guard and impressed all onlookers.

The biggest takeaway from the encounter wasn't that Afflalo barely survived a high school kid. It was more about Johnson showing that he can compete with upper-tier professionals physically and skillfully.

"Johnson immediately proved that he had the assertiveness and body to compete with an NBA player," said Nima Zarrabi of Slam Magazine.

That single anecdote is a great example of what makes Johnson such a versatile prospect: work ethic and fearless ambition. He's fully committed to each phase of the sport, which means his pro team will get a player it can plug into any situation.

Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

As Johnson begins his NBA audition at Arizona, look for him to lead the Wildcats with nonstop energy and a penchant for playmaking on both sides. He probably won't put up huge numbers, but his NBA-ready physique and mindset will help stir scouts and boost his draft stock.

Once he gets to the Association, fans will be treated to a multidimensional performer. Johnson will likely serve as the third scoring option in his lineup, but he will influence every facet of the offense and be indispensable. Meanwhile, his defense will stymie the opposing squad's top scorer.

Johnson's two-way impact will translate directly into more wins. He's easily worth a top-10 pick investment, perhaps even a top-five pick.

Dan O'Brien covers the NBA draft for Bleacher Report.

Follow @DanielO_BR