If, like me, your first thought after the Celtics drafted JaJuan Johnson was, “Well, at least they got someone who could contribute right away,” then think again.

JaJuan Johnson

The C’s picked the 6-foot-10, 220-pound four-year collegiate power forward with the No. 25 pick in the first round of the 2011 NBA draft. In the five previous drafts, ever since the NBA banned high school players from joining the league until age 19 or one year after the graduation of their high school class, exactly 30 four-year college players have been drafted in the first round.

• Of those 30 players, seven were either power forwards or centers like Johnson.
• Of those seven players, four lasted past the lottery.
• Of those four players, three played more than 10 games.
• Of those three players, two averaged more than three points as rookies.
• Of those two players, one measured under 7 feet, 2 inches tall: Trevor Booker.

It could be better (Roy Hibbert) or worse (DeMarre Carroll) than the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Booker, the No. 23 pick by the Wizards (via the Timberwolves) in 2010. To get an idea of what the Celtics should expect from their first-round pick if and when the 2011-12 season begins — and beyond – here’s how the seven other four-year collegiate big men have fared since 2006 …

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