Tre Johnson: Empty Gyms to the NBA Draft
It’s hard to miss Tre Johnson on the court.
I remember the first time I saw him in summer 2022. I was doing NBA Player
Development interning and there was a kid who was already in the gym in doing ball handling as
we were coming in. Everything he did was precise. He didn’t make a mistake. I continued to
watch him do the same moves over and over, instantly intrigued.
I was appointed to rebound for him the duration of the workout. He missed no more than five
shots total from all over the floor. Floaters, jumpers, off the dribble, finishes, the whole nine
yards. I was even more shocked when I was told he was about to be a junior in high school.
Amongst guys who are now pros, Tre stood out even then. The Lake Highlands gym was hot, the
floor slick with sweat.
It didn’t matter.
We were able to see this past season that when Tre Johnson is locked in, there is not much
you can do to stop him. His rookie year at Texas did not disappoint. The 6-6 guard was the
leading scorer of the Longhorns with 17.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, he
glimpsed some of the reasons why he is a lock to be a lottery pick in this upcoming draft. He hit
47 percent on field goals, 38 on three-pointers and 86 percent on free throws, all of the time
attracting the most hard core defenders on the perimeter, game after game.
He did not just score in bulk, he scored in variety. Johnson has always been able to find
space, reach his positions, and shoot at a rhythm, despite playing against top SEC defenses. It
could be a step back jumper late in the shot clock or an off-the-bounce floater over an opposing
shot-blocker in the lane, but he showed that he had a complete offense arsenal. What worked in
his favor perhaps most importantly with scouts is that he could play on the ball, as well as off of
it. He exhibited play-making ability when Texas employed him as a point guard in crunch-time
moments.
Going into the 2026 NBA Draft, Johnson has been constantly slated as a top 5 selection, with
some even projecting him to go to the NBA as the No. 2 overall pick. His poise, footwork, and
mature feel of the game is praised by NBA scouts. He has been compared to Devin Booker and
Jayson Tatum since high school, two players that score very easily, and his freshman season with
the Texas Longhorns did nothing to quell that comparison. What sets Johnson apart isn’t just his
skill—it’s his approach. He’s business-like in his preparation, meticulous in his training, and
unbothered by the spotlight.
If his college debut was any indication, Tre’ Johnson isn’t just ready for the NBA—he’s ready to
make an impact the moment he arrives.
