With the 23rd pick in a draft that was not highly regarded, the Bucks surprised many by taking 19-year-old guard AJ Johnson.

The 6’5” Johnson is from Fresno, California and had modest numbers as a professional last season in Australia. He weighs just 167 pounds and caught eyes at the NBA Combine in Chicago.

For those Bucks fans baffled by a selection that may not be able to help the team win now, Bucks General Manager Jon Horst said Johnson already has an elite skillset with his quickness, but “we think he can grow in our culture … not rush him.”

Horst said this is not a super raw prospect and lauded Johnson for being a hard worker and a driven kid.

How soon will he get on the floor and help the Bucks? No one, including Horst can say for sure.

It will be up to Johnson to show what he can do.

Bucks fans may not want to be patient about a young guy, but Horst felt that the 23rd pick was best used on Johnson. We’ll see if he was right.

Marquette’s Tyler Kolek was not picked in the first round. The NBA Draft continues with the second round Thursday afternoon.