Texas Basketball: 3 top 2024 NBA Draft Longhorns prospects
Chris Johnson, G
The highest-rated recruit Terry and the Longhorns signed in the 2023 class was the former Kansas Jayhawks commit and high-four-star combo guard from Montverde Academy, Chris Johnson.
The 6-foot-5 and 180-pound true freshman guard Johnson has played sparingly for the Longhorns this season. He's averaged 1.2 points per game, 0.4 assists, and 0.3 rebounds in 13 games played during his true freshman campaign this year.
While Johnson's role has been limited this season, he is the type of player for the Longhorns that has NBA Draft-caliber tools and the potential to become a really solid two-way player at the guard position.
Johnson has that big guard frame and two-way skill set that is valued in the modern NBA. He's a gifted ball-handler and facilitator on offense who can score the basketball himself by driving to the rim and finishing through contact or pulling up from distance.
Johnson must improve his shooting mechanics, as his inconsistent release makes him difficult to rely on as a shot taker and a shot maker at the collegiate level. As he develops his mechanics and fundamentals as a shooter in Terry's open and fast-paced offensive system, Johnson has the confidence to be a consistent shot-maker for the Longhorns.
On the defensive end of the floor, Johnson is a strong on-ball player who can utilize his length to be disruptive and generate steals. Johnson needs to show more consistent effort on the defensive end. But the physical tools and athleticism are present for Johnson to become a high-end on-ball defender who can defend any position on the perimeter or on the wing.
To sum things up, Johnson can be a prominent NBA Draft guard prospect in the next couple of years if he develops at a fast rate and improves fundamentally on both ends. He's got the physical tools that fit what the NBA wants from a modern and switchable guard.