Stanley Johnson Declares for 2015 NBA Draft: Latest Details and Reaction

As if the sting of watching yet another Elite Eight exit at the hands of the Wisconsin Badgers weren't enough, Arizona Wildcats fans now have to deal with Stanley Johnson's departure. The freshman forward announced Thursday that he'll be heading to the NBA. 

Pac-12 Networks passed along word of the announcement:

Johnson also took to Twitter to speak on his decision:

Many wondered throughout this past season whether Johnson was a one-and-done for the Wildcats, and the speculation really heated up after the Badgers knocked Arizona out of the NCAA tournament.

However, he didn't tip his hand immediately following the defeat to Wisconsin, per Joey Kaufman of The Orange County Register:

The news comes as little surprise because many eyed Johnson as a surefire lottery pick in the 2015 draft. Johnson's shooting needs improvement, but he's a fantastic athlete and a strong defender. He's also a very good rebounder for being just 6'7".

"He's a man-child," said one NBA scout of Johnson, per Mitch Lawrence of Forbes. "He's 6'6" or 6'7", 245 pounds, and he's built like a linebacker. But here's the deal: He's got a lot of skills. He can shoot it, and he can handle the ball. He rebounds. If he comes out, he’s going to be a top lottery pick."

Plenty of teams would line up to add a player with his skill set.

Although Johnson didn't earn a bunch of individual honors during his freshman season, his talent was clear to see. He averaged 13.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

He made a noticeable impact on both ends of the floor, with his defense arguably standing out the most, helping Arizona become one of the best defensive teams in the country.

ESPN.com's Jeff Borzello noted how Arizona could have a lot of turnover in the offseason with so many star players boasting NBA potential. Johnson was just one of a small handful of underclassmen head coach Sean Miller might have to replace:

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

The good news is that the Wildcats are welcoming in one of the best recruiting classes in the country, a group that boasts two 5-star talents in Allonzo Trier and Ray Smith. That young talent will need time to adjust to the college level, but Arizona shouldn't be lacking in playmakers next season.

Another year in Tucson might have helped improve Johnson's draft position, but it almost certainly wouldn't have taken a massive jump. The risk of suffering a major injury far outweighed the benefits of moving up a spot or two.

Despite Johnson only spending a short time at Arizona, he made his time count.

Recruit star ratings courtesy of 247Sports.