Rodney Terry on the way to see No. 1 target in 2024
Texas head coach Rodney Terry is wasting zero time hitting the road to see the top target on the board in the 2024 cycle.
[Get Inside Texas Plus until 8/31 for just $29.99!]
Terry is on a plane this afternoon headed to DFW to see 6-foot-5 guard Tre Johnson. The No. 1 ranked prospect in the On3 Industry Rankings has been on campus multiple times since Terry returned to Austin, and has been the top target in the 2024 cycle for the Longhorns for over two years.
Johnson made an official visit to Texas September 17, the weekend of the UTSA football game in Austin. That was the second visit Johnson and family made to Texas since the beginning of June.
Terry has a long standing connection to the Johnson family. When Terry was hired by Harry Miller at Baylor, Tre Johnson’s father was playing for the Bears. Richard Johnson Jr. and Terry have been close for many years with Johnson’s background as a high school coach. Johnson Jr. is currently on staff at Lake Highlands.
The leader of the Lake Highlands 6A state championship team has also made official visits to Baylor (October 1) and Kentucky (January 27). Texas, Baylor, Kentucky and possibly Duke are considered the serious contenders for Johnson. He will also have an opportunity to go forgo college and head to the NBA G-League.
Tre Johnson Personal Life
Success runs in Tre Johnson’s family. His father, Richard Johnson Jr., started his basketball career at Baylor before transferring to Midwestern State. During his college career, he scored more than 1,100 points and shot more than 38.8% from 3-point range. Johnson is viewed by On3 basketball analysts as a “unique scorer,” and he’s been widely viewed as one of the nation’s top prospects in the country for years.
“From day one, we planned to be here, but we didn’t know how it was going to happen or when it was going to happen,” Richard Johnson told CBSDFW.com. “So, us being here, it’s kind of exciting, but we kind of handled it like it’s what we expected.”
During his sophomore season at Lake Highlands, Johnson averaged 23.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists for a 32-5 team. That success carried over to his junior year. During four games at the prestigious City of Palms Tournament in December 2022, Johnson averaged 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He also led Lake Highlands to the championship of the Allen Holiday Invitational. He posted 32 points, 14 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in the title game. His high school coach calls Johnson a “human highlight reel.”
“When the lights come on, it’s a big game and it’s a big moment, he is always ready and he’s always delivered,” Lake Highlands coach Joe Duffield said. “He has been doing that since he was young.” Johnson idolizes Lebron James and Kevin Durant. He even got to work out with Durant and talks with him often.
“Joining him in the NBA is my long-term goal,” Johnson said.
