No. 1 SG Tre Johnson favors Kentucky's winning culture, NBA success

If you were looking for a reason to knock 2024 five-star guard Tre Johnson off his No. 1 overall spot in the rising senior class, he certainly didn’t give you one to open the Nike EYBL season in Atlanta this past weekend. It took him a bit to knock the rust off, but he still proved he was among the best all-around scorers in high school basketball, averaging 16.0 points on 41.7% shooting from three over the course of four games in Session I. He also added 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists while turning the ball over just 1.8 times per contest in 30.0 minutes per game.

Others scored more, some more efficient (36.7% FG), but the 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of Dallas still clearly looked the part of a future college star with limitless range and confidence.

Rankings aren’t very important to him — No. 1 or No. 100, it doesn’t matter. “I’m just trying to get better as a player and win games,” he told KSR in Atlanta. “Everybody does something good, some people do things other people don’t. My scoring ability and my playmaking (separate my game from others in the class).”

And that’s where Kentucky comes in, with head coach John Calipari looking for that go-to scorer to anchor his upcoming 2024 recruiting class. He was there for every one of Johnson’s games in Atlanta, courtside next to at least one assistant — Orlando Antigua, Chin Coleman and Bruiser Flint all made appearances. The program’s No. 1 recruiting priority, the staff made it clear the five-star is wanted in Lexington.

And the interest is mutual.

“It’s their culture of winning, how they’ve won in the past,” Johnson said of his interest in the Wildcats. “(My lead recruiter) was KT (Turner) before but now it’s switched over to Coach Chin. It’s been really good, they’ve just kind of picked up where KT left off. … (Calipari) will let his guards play. If somebody is able to score, he’s going to let them score.”

That’s just Kentucky, though. As the No. 1 recruit in America, the list of programs tripping over each other to have a shot at Johnson’s commitment is extensive. And he says he’s wide open, willing to let the process play out to give everyone a fair shot.

“Everything is still open,” he said. “I’m still hearing from new schools like LSU, just heard from Alabama like two days ago. Kentucky, Baylor, Texas, Kansas and Arkansas, those are the main schools hitting me up.”

He’s taken just three official visits, though. One to Kentucky, one to Texas, one to Baylor. A fourth has been scheduled to Kansas starting May 5. It’s a process he’s enjoyed, “just getting to know all the coaching staffs and everything,” he said.

But the three programs he’s already visited are seen as the runaway favorites to land his commitment. There’s the blue-blood appeal of playing at Kentucky under a Hall of Fame coach. But as a native of Dallas, the opportunity to stay home is intriguing, too. Especially considering his dad, Richard Johnson Jr., started his basketball career at Baylor.

And his assistant coach there, Rodney Terry, just got the head coaching job at Texas.

“It’s a good program. Coach Terry, I’ve got a great relationship with him,” Johnson said of the Longhorns. “That was good to see (him get the head coaching job). He deserves it. … (Watching them in the NCAA Tournament), he makes his guards play defense, but lets them play on offense.”

Does his dad playing at Baylor make a difference? “No, not really.” If he chooses the Bears, it’s because of the work Scott Drew and his coaching staff have put in to get him, along with their ability to “let their guards play.”

And he hears the ‘hometown hero’ buzz, but he won’t let that sway his decision, either.

“(Fans) talk about it a lot, but there’s no pressure (to stay home). It’s just schools they want me to go to,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t really matter where I go. I know my family is going to be able to go, so that’s not really something I’ll be worried about — staying in the state so they can see me play.”

The Jayhawks are getting an official to open the month of May, another program he likes.

“I can be another one of their big guards, another one-and-done,” Johnson said. “They’ll start me as a freshman.”

Alabama is attempting to throw itself into the mix, though “they’ve got some ground to make up because these other schools have been talking to me for like a year now,” he added.

Open, but also factoring in who has been prioritizing him from the beginning. Especially when they’re high-profile programs themselves, all four with past or upcoming visits. If you want to enter the picture now, that’s fine, but don’t be surprised if prior connections and interest win out.

“There are other things that go into it, but it’s definitely something I look at,” he told KSR.

What else will go into it? Will the transfer portal make a difference, waiting to see if a school will recruit other players at his position? Could that push him elsewhere?

“I don’t really care about the portal. If somebody in the portal goes to the same school I want to go to, I don’t mind competing with them for the spot,” Johnson said. “It doesn’t matter to me. If there’s somebody there in my spot, I’m going to take it.”

Simple enough.

And what about NIL? Will it be a lucrative financial package that seals the deal on his potential commitment? Respectfully, college money isn’t what he’s looking for. He has his eyes set on the NBA where he plans to earn generational wealth.

“I’m not in need of money. The money is in the NBA, and that’s what I’m eventually trying to get to,” Johnson said. “I’m not trying to stay in college for four years just to make money. I’m just looking for the best fit for me, it’s not about who is paying the most.”

Ah, speaking of that. NBA success. It’s impossible to turn on the TV right now and avoid seeing a former Kentucky player going off in the Playoffs. One day it’s De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, the next it’s Devin Booker or Jamal Murray or Tyrese Maxey or Karl-Anthony Towns or Julius Randle. They’re all over, everywhere.

And yes, Johnson is noticing.

“They have a record for sending guys to the league. And that’s the end goal for me, so that’s something that sticks out,” the five-star guard said. “They bring it up, send me graphics of all the guys they’ve sent to the league.”

Could he opt to choose the immediate professional route before making the jump to the NBA, whether that be the G-League Ignite, Overtime Elite, NBL or other options? He hasn’t ruled any of them out.

If he feels one of those pro routes will best prepare him for the NBA, that’s what he’ll ultimately do.

“Yeah, I’m open to it,” Johnson said. “I’m just going to the best place for me, where I can get better and get ready for the next level.”

As for a decision timeline, he doesn’t exactly have one yet. There’s no pressure to decide immediately or come up with a deadline. It’ll just be when he feels comfortable with a certain school or professional option.

“I’m going to make a decision whenever the time is right,” he said.

What is he looking for? Style of play will be the top priority.

“A fast, uptempo school where the guards have freedom and they play defense.”

Will that be Kentucky? Calipari certainly hopes so.