The Tre Johnson era is over. The talented freshman guard announced on NBA Today he will enter the 2025 NBA Draft. Johnson, who led the SEC in scoring with 19.9 points a game, won the SEC Freshman of the Year after the regular season ended.
Texas’ season was ultimately disappointing, despite narrowly squeezing into the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns lost in the First Four play-in round to Xavier. But Johnson was the biggest bright spot. The Garland, TX native scored the second-most points among all freshmen this season behind only projected No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg.
“This season was a roller-coaster ride,” Johnson said during his announcement. “But it was a great experience, wins and losses aside. Going up against the best teams in the country. Playing at Texas was the best experience I’ve ever had, being with a great group of guys and a great coaching staff.”
In addition to his close to 20 points per game, Johnson averaged 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, while shooting 37% for 3-point territory. Johnson has the body of a prototypical NBA win at 6-foot-6 and a 6-10 wingspan. He just turned 19 on March 7.
Johnson is in Santa Barbara, California, preparing for the draft and an even more significant challenge in the NBA.
“It will be constant work, just trying to take advantage of every day to try and get better,” Johnson said. “I’m a big basketball nerd, so I’m spending a lot of time watching film, both full games and individual players on Synergy. I like to watch Shai Gilgeous-Alexander because we have similar body types. Devin Booker, with how he scores and his footwork coming off pindowns, and also Klay Thompson with the Warriors, seeing how he uses different actions.”
Projected by many mock drafts as the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft, Johnson said just playing in the NBA is his lifelong dream. “It’s kind of somewhat a childhood dream, but, when I was a kid, I didn’t think about being No. 1 or being lottery,” Johnson said on NBA Today. “I just really thought about just getting a chance (as) one of those 60 to have a chance to play in the NBA, that’s all I really needed. But to be a lottery pick, that’s even better for sure.”
The NBA draft combine will be held May 11-18 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 25-26 in New York.
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