Comparisons to legendary former Longhorn Kevin Durant don’t affect Texas men’s basketball freshman Tre Johnson.
A five-star recruit and arguably the biggest star the team has recruited since Mo Bamba joined the team in 2017, Johnson is focused on building his own name rather than leaning on Durant’s.
“I feel like I got my own lane, my own pace,” Johnson said. “It might not be as good as (Bamba’s and Durant’s). I might go through struggles and maybe have a boom later on in my career. It’s really just going along with it.”
The last time Texas went into the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament in 2003, Johnson wasn’t born yet. He thinks it’s time for another tournament performance, which not even Durant managed to reach.
“I’m really all about winning,” Johnson said. “I don’t even want to put my mind on any type of goals. I just want to get that win, whatever that win takes.”
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard started his high school career at Lake Highlands in Dallas but transferred to Link Academy in Missouri, a school known for its sports and basketball alumni, at the end of his junior season.
During his senior season at Link, Johnson was selected to the 2024 McDonald’s All-American boys game, becoming the 23rd player in Texas basketball history to earn the honor. Head coach Rodney Terry emphasized the rarity of Johnson’s talent.
“I’ve been recruiting the state of Texas a long time,” Terry said, according to Sports Illustrated. “12 years here at Texas and Tre Johnson is one of the best guards I’ve seen in the state of Texas. That’s pretty lofty in terms of some of the guys we’re able to get while I was here in the previous tenure.”
As an All-American and the No. 5 recruit in the country per Rivals, Johnson had plenty of options to choose from when it came to his collegiate career. While Johnson doesn’t aim to play like Durant, the current Phoenix Suns forward was a part of the freshman’s recruiting process.
“I talked to Kevin Durant a little bit about it before I committed,” Johnson said. “He just said go where my heart was at. He said he enjoyed his time here, the connections he made off the court. So he thought it was (going to) be a good place, too.”
Durant and Bamba, despite being icons in the program’s legacy, didn’t spend much time as Longhorns, both declaring for the NBA Draft after one collegiate season. That might not be the case for Johnson.
“It’s a chance,” Johnson said about declaring at the end of the season. “But I don’t have (any) problem doing two (years at UT) if (the season) doesn’t go as well. I’m not a guy that’s gonna force to go to the NBA.”
Expectations for the team are up ahead of Texas men’s basketball’s season opener against Ohio State on Nov. 4. Johnson is confident in his game.
When asked if he can reach the star levels of Durant, Johnson smiled.
“I can be better,” Johnson said.
