Texas Basketball: 2010’s All-Decade Longhorns Team

Sixth man:  Gary Johnson (2007-2011)

9.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.8 APG, 17.2 PER (this decade), 10.8 WS

The list of the wings worthy of landing the three spot on this list for the Texas basketball program within the last decade is thin. Beyond maybe the player that had the most impressive season of any in the last decade for the Longhorns, here’s one player deserving to be their sixth man.

But one underrated contributor that played a solid four-year career with the Longhorns is former 6-foot-6 small forward Gary Johnson.

While Johnson wasn’t the biggest small forward to ever suit up for the Longhorns, he was a solid two-way player through his final two seasons. The bulk of his 10.8 career win shares with the Longhorns were produced on the defensive end of the floor, though. A defensive rebounding rate that sits above 17 percent in his final two seasons is about the best Texas will get from a wing.

Texas also got reliable offensive production out of Johnson in his final two seasons. He had a solid assist rate during his senior season, sitting better than eight percent. And his true shooting percentage during his junior season was the best of his career, at 55.0 percent.

Consistency and reliable production in Big 12 play also helps Johnson to get this spot at small forward on the list. He averaged around 12 points per game and seven boards during his senior season in Big 12 play.

The 2010-11 All-Big 12 honoree never played in the NBA, but he was a first round pick in the 2011 NBA D-League Draft. He played for the Tulsa 66ers for a couple seasons, and is mostly playing overseas at the moment.