Texas basketball adds elite wing talent in 5-Star SG Tre Johnson

Head coach Rodney Terry and Texas basketball landed their top priority recruit in the 2024 class on Nov. 15, the elite five-star Dallas (TX) Link Academy shooting guard Tre Johnson. The No. 1 shooting guard recruit in the nation in the 2024 class in the 247Sports Composite and On3 Industry Ranking committed to Texas over the Baylor Bears to bring Terry and the staff up to three pledges for this cycle amid the Early Signing Period for hoops.

This is also the second commitment the Longhorns have landed in as many weeks as Terry secured a pledge on Nov. 2 from high-four-star Carrollton (TX) Newman Smith power forward Nic Codie.

The No. 1 recruit in Texas in the 2024 class, Codie, signed with the Longhorns on the first day of this signing period (Nov. 8).

Johnson made his commitment to Texas official on the “Pat McAfee Show” on Nov. 15.

Texas basketball gets a massive commitment from the No. 1 2024 SG recruit, 5-Star Tre Johnson

But landing this commitment from Johnson is easily the biggest win on the recruiting trail yet for Terry as Texas’ full-time head coach. Johnson was Texas’ top priority recruit in the 2024 class. They had to fight Baylor in a huge in-state battle on the recruiting trail to win this recruitment.

Terry and assistant coach Frank Haith built great relationships with Johnson and his family, which played a big role in the Longhorns getting him in the boat in the 2024 class on Nov. 15. Tre’s dad, Richard Johnson Jr., played college hoops at Baylor and Terry was his assistant coach there. This relationship between Terry and the Johnson family goes back a long way.

"“We have a great relationship. I feel I can be myself around them and I feel they would push me and help better myself.”"

Johnson took two official visits to Texas, with the most recent one coming in late August. He also took multiple official visits to Baylor and one each to see the Kansas Jayhawks and Kentucky Wildcats.

Johnson is the last big piece for Texas in the 2024 class from the high school ranks

After landing Johnson’s commitment, Texas now boasts the No. 4 ranked 2024 recruiting class in the nation according to the 247Sports Team Composite Rankings.

Johnson’s commitment brings Texas up to three top-50-ranked recruits in the 2024 class, with the other two being Codie and five-star Lexington (SC) shooting guard Cam Scott. Codie and Scott signed with Texas during the Early Signing Period on November 8.

It’s important to note that Johnson is expected to sign with Texas during this signing period.

Johnson was Texas’ last big priority recruit to get in the boat on the trail in the 2024 class this fall. He’s a day-one impact starter who will start at the two or the three next season. Texas also has an impact-ready starter coming in as a true freshman in the five-star SG from South Carolina, Scott.

Codie is a potential early impact recruit who will get significant minutes in the frontcourt rotation at the four next season.

Texas is getting an elite scorer and playmaker in Johnson

What Texas is getting in the 6-foot-6 and 190-pound Dallas, TX, native Johnson is an elite scorer and playmaker with good length and athleticism. Johnson can score the basketball from multiple levels of the floor. He has a natural shooting stroke and can pull up off-the-dribble from deep and mid-range.

You can’t say enough good things about his footwork and release when shooting the basketball. He looks like a natural who will succeed as a lethal and efficient scorer in college and then in the NBA one day.

When Johnson is open anywhere within 25 or 30 feet from the basket, he’s always a threat to drain shots.

What makes Johnson such a lethal scorer is the vast amount of ways he can put the bull in the bucket. He’s a natural playmaker and facilitator of the offense who can create his own shots and find open teammates for easy baskets.

Johnson likes to pull up from range off-the-dribble, especially when he has space to operate. But he’s also a good tough-shot maker, as he can utilize his 6-foot-6 length to rise above defenders contesting his shot. If the jump shot isn’t there over a defender contesting him one-on-one, he can rely on a good step-back jumper.

An improving part of Johnson’s game is his ability to draw contact and get to the free-throw line. While he’s still adding more muscle mass to his frame to be more effective driving the lane and finishing through contact at the rim, Johnson does have a good feel for the game and knows when to draw contact to get the foul call.

He’s a good shooter from the stripe, hitting his looks from the line at a clip north of 80 percent in high school and the Nike EYBL circuit this year.

Regarding his playmaking ability, Johnson’s good handle of the basketball and great court vision make him a natural fit in the secondary facilitator and distributor role on offense. He’s an above-average passer from the two-guard spot right now, but that is still an area he can improve upon.

Johnson has the tools to succeed defensively

On the defensive end, Johnson has the physical tools and high basketball IQ to become an above-average defender one-on-one. But he still needs to add size and become a more aware off-ball defender to truly become a force on that end on the perimeter and the wing.

His versatility and length should allow him to be a switchable defender that can take on matchups between the one and the three.

Areas of improvement

Outside of continuing to get stronger and improving his defensive game, Johnson is a player who is still getting better at driving the lane and finishing through contact at the rim. Once he gets that feel for more effectively scoring in the paint on offense, Johnson will be the complete package as one of the most natural scorers we’ve seen at Texas at the two or the three in a long time.

Johnson has a good handle on the basketball and great court vision but is still developing the timing and feel component as a facilitator and distributor on offense.

Projection and fit at Texas

Texas is likely getting its first potential top-five future draft pick in the NBA since Tristan Thompson in 2011. Most 2025 NBA mock drafts project Johnson as a top three or five pick in that class. And he definitely has the talent to go No. 1 overall.

Johnson is an elite scorer who will immediately impact Texas on the offensive end of the floor. He has the tools and shooting ability to be a high-usage and efficient scorer from the first day he arrives on the 40.

Johnson is a great fit in Terry’s fast-paced and free-flowing offensive system. He gives Texas yet another weapon to space the floor and make plays on offense. Johnson is also a scoring threat that can get out and run in transition.

With the Longhorns set to lose senior guard Max Abmas, senior wing Ithiel Horton, and senior forward Brock Cunningham due to exhausted eligibility next offseason, Johnson can come in as a day-one starter for Terry’s squad. And since he’s the taller of the two guards Texas has in the 2024 class, compared to the 6-foot-4 Scott, Johnson could play at the three next season.

There is also the possibility that the talented freshman combo guard Chris Johnson develops at a high rate this season and is ready to assume a starting role in the backcourt in 2024-25 if junior guard Tyrese Hunter leaves for the draft.

Here are two scenarios compared for Texas’ potential starting lineups next season with Johnson in the fold.

Option 1:

• PG: Tyrese Hunter
• SG: Chris Johnson
• SF: Tre Johnson
• PF: Ze’Rik Onyema/Nic Codie
• C: Kadin Shedrick

Option 2:

• PG: Chris Johnson
• SG: Cam Scott
• SF: Tre Johnson
• PF: Ze’Rik Onyema/Nic Codie
• C: Kadin Shedrick

In either scenario, Johnson will likely be Texas’ best scoring threat on the team next season.