Tre Johnson, who led the Wildcats to a state championship in 2023, has declared for the NBA Draft.
Tre Johnson in the Alamodome.
After a strong true freshman year at Texas, Johnson announced his decision Tuesday to enter the NBA Draft on ESPN as a one-and-done. The Lake Highlands product is viewed as a consensus top-ten draft pick, with USA Today’s latest mock draft projecting the six-foot-six guard as the fifth overall pick.
“It’s kinda somewhat of a childhood dream,” Johnson said, “but when I was a kid, I just didn’t think about being number one, or being lottery — I just really thought about getting a chance, one of those 60 to have a chance to be in the NBA. That’s all I really needed. But just to be a lottery pick, that’s even better.”
Johnson led the Longhorns in scoring by a wide margin in his first year, averaging 19.9 points per game while shooting 42.7% from the floor. He set the Texas freshman scoring record in February in an overtime loss to Arkansas with a 39-point outing, and was named SEC Freshman of the Week five times during conference play.
Following the conclusion of SEC play, Johnson was named SEC Freshman Player of the Year, in addition to being named to the All-SEC Second Team and SEC All-Freshman Team. He is also a finalist for the Jerry West Award, which is awarded annually to the top shooting guard in Division 1 Basketball.
“I would just like to thank my family, first and foremost, just for keeping me grounded,” Johnson said. “And all the coaches who have coached me up to this moment and all the trainers I’ve worked out with that helped me get to this point. And all the teammates I’ve had — guys that have helped me out with a lot of different things, taking bits and pieces from their game, different advice they’ve given me.”
In Texas’ First Four loss to Xavier, Johnson scored 23 points and grabbed six rebounds.
Newly-hired Texas Coach Sean Miller recently told The Austin American-Statesman that Johnson “needs to go” to the NBA Draft.
Johnson was an integral part of the 2022-23 state championship-winning LHHS squad. He later transferred to Link Academy in Missouri before committing to Texas as a five-star recruit.
Draft Day is June 25, with the combine scheduled for May 11-18 in Chicago.
