3 Texas players to watch in preseason practice
In a little under one month from today, Texas basketball and head coach Rodney Terry will tip off the beginning of the inaugural season in the SEC for the 2024-25 campaign. Terry and staff have rejuvenated Texas's complete rotation, including a highly touted 2024 signing class and another big-time transfer class from the portal this past spring during the offseason.
Texas basketball has a reloaded and rejuvenated rotation entering the 2024-25 regular season this fall
Texas's roster looks much different entering the 2024-25 campaign than it did last season. Gone are top producers and stars for the Longhorns from the starting lineup, like senior big man Dylan Disu, senior guard Max Abmas, junior guard Tyrese Hunter, and sophomore forward Dillon Mitchell.
Most of Texas's roster for the 2024-25 season are immediate impact transfers from the portal this offseason or blue-chip signees from the 2024 recruiting class.
Just because the Longhorns have so many new faces in the projected rotation for this upcoming season in the SEC, it doesn't mean that the expectations on the Forty Acres are any lower. ESPN's way-too-early top 25 for the 2024-25 season ranks the Longhorns as the No. 22 team in the nation.
Terry has won at least one NCAA Tournament game in his two seasons leading the Longhorns during the postseason over the past couple of years. The expectation is for the Longhorns to make another solid tournament run again next spring.
The process begins on the court for the Longhorns in late September and early October, with full team practices getting underway before the start of the upcoming season.
Here are three Longhorns players to watch early in preseason practice before the start of the 2024-25 regular season on Nov. 4 against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Tre Johnson, SG/SF
The most highly-anticipated new arrival for the Longhorns among the transfer portal and high school recruits this offseason was the former elite five-star shooting guard recruit Tre Johnson. Expectations will be through the roof for Johnson on the offensive end of the floor as a primary scoring guard/wing for the Longhorns this season.
Early 2025 NBA Mock Drafts project Johnson to be an easy lottery pick next summer. He's definitely one of the most elite scorers among freshmen entering this upcoming season of college hoops for the Longhorns.
OTF's Gerry Hamilton reports that Johnson has already shown a level of competitiveness and maturity in his game at the outset of practice in the last week or so that is well beyond his years and experience level as a true freshman.
Despite the plethora of backcourt depth and talent that Terry and staff have in the backcourt and wing rotations this upcoming season, Johnson seems like a shoe-in at this point to be a key part of the starting five for the opener next month against Ohio State.