Marquette's Tyler Kolek was available. So was Illinois' Terrance Shannon, Virginia's Ryan Dunn and Creighton's Baylor Scheierman.

But instead of taking an experienced college player with the 23rd pick in the NBA draft, the Milwaukee Bucks went with youth, selecting 19-year-old guard AJ Johnson who played professionally in Australia last year.

The Bucks obviously feel that Johnson has more upside than many of the more-seasoned college players left on the board.

However, most of the national media sites that weighed in with early grades gave the Bucks low marks. Here's a roundup.

The Athletic

The Bucks have been big fans of taking reaches like this in their recent draft history even though the hit rate has been … actually have they hit on any of these guys since Giannis? It’s always tougher when you’re making late picks, and obviously, Giannis was a pretty massive hit. Johnson has some athletic pop but is rail thin and can’t shoot and is very much a developmental player who is highly unlikely to contribute this year. The Bucks are in need of more immediate help, so I’m a little surprised they didn’t either trade down or trade out if this was the top player on their board. Player Ranking: 32

CBS Sports

This is a stretch even though Johnson is a potential first-round talent. In Milwaukee, they need players who can come in and play right now. Johnson was a five-star recruit who decided to go overseas instead of Texas. He's a big-time talent who is smooth but a ways away. Grade: C

The Ringer

Milwaukee had the second-oldest roster in the NBA last season, and the team as a whole had a tough time staying in front of their respective assignments. Johnson, a top-30 recruit who decommitted from Texas to join the Next Stars program in the NBL, is a theoretical answer to both dilemmas. Theoretical because it’s tough to get a read on Johnson, who hardly played in Australia. He is among the fastest players in the draft with the ball in his hands. Coupled with his slick ball-handling ability, Johnson has a strong sense of how to deliver passes to open teammates as he compromises a defense with his penetration. His length and general athleticism give him some upside as an on-ball hound, and his defensive effort was a highlight during his combine scrimmage runs. Get him on the Giannis diet and let’s circle back in a few years. Grade: B-

Sports Illustrated

Johnson showed some flashes of upside during combine week in Chicago, but it’s fairly unprecedented for a player as unproductive as Johnson was in Australia last season to end up as a first-rounder. This feels like a piece Milwaukee will stash in the G League to develop for now. He’s not a reliable shooter yet and he struggles to gain separation off the bounce. Grade C-

Sporting News

This pick is a massive surprise. Johnson was widely projected to be a second-round pick as an undeveloped, 19-year-old shot-creating guard. He stands in at 6-4 and a light 167 pounds.

There is no denying that Johnson has the potential to be an impact scorer in the league someday, but he is far from ready to contribute at the NBA level. Grade: C-

USA Today

Johnson is a quick guard with a big frame with a 6-foot-9 wingspan at 6 feet, 4 inches tall. He's very inexperienced and has a thin frame. His first step and ball handling show promise, though.

Milwaukee selected one of the most raw players in the draft 10-20 selections ahead of where he was expected to fall. If they wanted a long-term investment, the likes of Kyshawn George or Pacome Diadet were still on the board here, as were ready-made contributors at guard like Tyler Kolek or Ryan Dunn. Grade: D

Yahoo Sports

Johnson's upside as a 6-foot-5 combo guard is very intriguing and he's a player who has been in the gym working out with Rockets guard Jalen Green since 8th grade. They have similar mannerisms as playmakers, and Johnson is still so raw as prospect but could end up being one of the best players in this draft two to three years down the road. Grade: B+

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How national media graded Bucks first-round draft choice AJ Johnson