Texas Longhorns Coach Rodney Terry Praises 2024 Signee Tre Johnson: 'Next-Level Ability'
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Longhorns had an eventful Wednesday. Just hours before their non-conference tilt with the Rice Owls at the Moody Center, the Longhorns got a commitment and simultaneous letter of intent signature from five-star 2024 Link Academy (Branson, MO.) guard and Dallas native Tre Johnson on the final day of the early signing period.
After Texas' 80-64 win over Rice, Terry commented on Johnson publicly for the first time.
"I've been recruiting the state of Texas a long time, 12 years here at Texas and Tre Johnson is one of the best guards I've seen in the state of Texas," Terry said. "That's pretty lofty in terms of some of the guys were able to get while I was here in the previous tenure."
Rodney Terry (left) and Tre Johnson
@RodneyTerry - X
Terry said he's seen Johnson dominate opposing defenses from the start of his recruitment. He even pointed out Oklahoma City Thunder rookie guard and first-round pick Cason Wallace as an elite defender he's seen have trouble guarding Johnson.
"Sophomore year I saw him play against elite-level guys in Cason Wallace and guys that are top-10 picks that are elite defensive players and just give those guys almost 40 points in games," Terry said. "Some guys are wired to score, he's wired to score.
"He's one of the elite players that come out of the state of Texas in terms of scoring the basketball that I've seen in my 27 years of recruiting the state of Texas. He's elite and he has next-level ability."
Johnson, the No. 5 overall player in the 2024 class per 247Sports' rankings, held an offer from Texas since Dec. 7, 2021 — the second-longest tenure to Baylor which offered him Aug. 1, 2021. He took an official visit to Austin on Sept. 17, 2022.
He had been down to either Texas or Baylor after announcing the two in-state rivals as his final two choices on Oct. 11. Beating Baylor and coach Scott Drew in the recruiting race for Johnson was going to be no easy task, but Terry and staff pulled it off.
The Longhorns will now travel to New York City to take on the Louisville Cardinals and UConn or Indiana in the Empire Classic on Sunday and Monday.
