Former Nicolet standout Jalen Johnson posterizes Lakers' Austin Reaves

A spectacular play in the NBA Monday night came from a local connection.

Former standout at Nicolet High School, Jalen Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks, did his best "Giannis at Madison Square Garden" impression and nearly jumped over an entire defender in the process of dunking the ball.

Once the film is processed, it is almost certain the image will live on as a poster, at Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves' expense, until the end of our time.

Johnson, 22, played high school basketball at Sun Prairie High School and Nicolet High School in Glendale. He helped lead Nicolet to a Division 2 state championship in 2019. He was also named Associated Press player of the year for Wisconsin.

Soon, he became on of the top recruits in the country and committed to go play for coach Mike Krzyzewski and Duke University, but decided to drop out midseason to prepare for the NBA draft. He said at the time that it was in the best interest of his future and health after consulting family and Coach K.

Johnson was drafted by the Hawks with the 20th pick in 2021. He spent his rookie year assigned to the G League affiliate and only averaged 5 minutes a game on 22 games for the Hawks. Following the season, he had a medical procedure on his left knee to address tendinitis, which was described as non-surgical.

The next season, 2022-23, Johnson improved in near-all statistical categories. But this season, the third-year forward is having the best year of his career, averaging 15.9 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Fewer than 15 games remain for most NBA teams. The Milwaukee Bucks are scheduled to travel to Atlanta to play the Hawks on March 30. Atlanta has a record of 30-37 and are seeded 10th in the East standings, which would qualify them to participate in the league's play-in tournament. The Bucks are currently the 2nd seed at 44-24 and if they finish there they would play one of the victors from the play-in tournament.