Where things stand following Tre Johnson's official visit to Kentucky

Kentucky hosted No. 1 overall junior Tre Johnson on an official visit this past weekend, rolling out the blue carpet for the five-star guard during the program’s highly anticipated matchup vs. Kansas. With Ian Jackson committing to North Carolina a few weeks back, it put Johnson on an island atop the Wildcats’ priority list in the class, with options limited elsewhere at the guard position.

2024 five-star guard Boogie Fland is in the conversation — Kentucky likes him quite a bit and a significant push is being made. Four-star wing Billy Richmond III is also a take, considering his deep ties to John Calipari and his experience alongside UK signees DJ Wagner and Aaron Bradshaw at Camden (NJ) High School. The Wildcats are also keeping tabs on the likes of Karter Knox, Isaiah Elohim and Travis Perry, while 2025 five-star Darryn Peterson is also a reclass option and a top priority for the program, regardless of when he wants to arrive.

As for day-one impact shooting guards in the junior class, though, Johnson has emerged as a must. There simply isn’t another three-level scorer like him among his peers, polished and smooth out to NBA range, comfortable embracing the green light. He’s currently averaging 22.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest while shooting 51% from the field, 38% from three and 91% at the line for Lake Highlands (TX), leading his team to a 22-3 overall record on the year. That’s after a standout EYBL session that saw Johnson score just short of 15 points per contest on 35% shooting from three.

With assistant coach KT Turner leading the charge, Kentucky brought the 6-foot-5 guard out of Dallas in to prove he can be a No. 1 scoring option for the Wildcats in year one. It was an official visit that painted a picture of what his role would be with the program and how the staff could help him turn his NBA dreams into reality, playing on college basketball’s biggest and brightest stage.

Going into the visit, Baylor had emerged behind the scenes as the top contender to land the nation’s top-ranked junior. Johnson’s father, Richard Johnson Jr., signed with the Bears out of high school and played two seasons in Waco before transferring to Midwestern State for his final two years of eligibility. Scott Drew has played the family cards right — who wouldn’t want to suit up for the same school your dad did nearly three decades ago? — but he’s done particularly well laying out a path to success for the five-star guard on his own. Baylor has had a lot of recent success with guards like Johnson — five-star freshman Keyonte George is a current example, along with back-to-back top-10 picks in 2021 and 2022 — while also holding a national championship in the program’s back pocket in 2020-21. The Bears have put together one hell of a pitch.

Texas has always loomed as another in-state contender, with the Longhorns pushing all their chips in on Johnson from the beginning. Chris Beard’s firing and the ensuing uncertainty surrounding the program’s head coaching job has undoubtedly hurt UT’s chances to land the Dallas native, though interim coach Rodney Terry has done his part to make up ground — his track record of landing must-have recruits as an assistant in Austin is strong. What Texas does regarding its coaching search will make or break the Longhorns’ chances — Johnson waiting to make a final decision plays in their favor, but it’s a moot point if the hire doesn’t check off the boxes. Playing the wait-and-see game allows other programs to make a push — Arkansas and Kansas being two.

The professional route has always intrigued Johnson and remains in contention, with the G-League Ignite maintaining contact and Overtime Elite previously hosting the five-star guard on a visit. Back in the late summer and early fall, competing schools saw the G-League as a serious threat to pull Johnson away from college, if not the likely option. Those talks have stalled a bit, though, as interest in the college route continues to pick up. Still a situation worth monitoring, but to a lesser extent.

Johnson’s visit to Kentucky went very well and the Wildcats are considered to be a top contender to land the standout scorer. It wasn’t, though, a trip that shook things up dramatically or moved the needle in either direction — nor was it expected to, considering Johnson’s no-rush approach. Baylor remains a significant threat, with Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and the pro route battling in a tier slightly below.

It should be noted that schools have been met with pushback when applying pressure to commit. This is a process Johnson’s camp is taking very seriously and being thorough with, respecting all programs taking the time to pursue the five-star guard.

Kentucky is in a good spot, but don’t expect a commitment anytime soon.