Just 10 games into his college career, Isaiah Johnson is already forcing defenses to adjust - and fast.
The freshman guard has quickly made a name for himself with his ability to light it up from beyond the arc. Opponents have taken notice, and the scouting reports have caught up.
But what’s standing out even more right now? Johnson’s response to that defensive pressure.
Instead of forcing shots or fading into the background, he's evolving - and doing it with the kind of poise you don’t usually see from a first-year player.
As Colorado moves on from a win over UTSA and gears up for a Wednesday night matchup against Portland State, Johnson enters riding a different kind of hot streak - one built on playmaking. He dished out a season-high six assists against UTSA, continuing a trend that’s showing he’s far more than just a perimeter sniper.
“He’s become more efficient in that part of his game,” head coach Tad Boyle said. “Now that we’ve played a few games, teams have some film on us.
Early in the year, the scouting report might not have been as detailed on him. But now?
They’re saying, ‘You better chase him off the three-point line. Make him put it on the floor.
Make him take tougher shots.’”
Johnson made an early splash with his shooting, going 5-for-9 from deep over his first two games and instantly becoming a fan favorite at the CU Events Center. But even shooters go cold, and Johnson’s 0-for-3 showing from three against UTSA marked the second time in three games he didn’t hit from deep. His 3-point percentage has dipped just below the 50% mark - still an elite number - but the more significant development is what he’s doing when defenders run him off the line.
Through the first two games, Johnson had four assists and five turnovers - a rocky start, as you'd expect from a freshman adjusting to the speed of the college game. By game three, he added another assist and another turnover.
But then came a stretch that showed real growth: six straight games without a single turnover. That streak ended against UTSA, but he still posted six assists to just one turnover.
Over the last three games, Johnson has tallied 12 assists and just one turnover. That’s not just good - that’s veteran-level decision-making.
For the season, Johnson now holds a 3.00 assist-to-turnover ratio (21 assists to 7 turnovers). That kind of efficiency is a big reason why Colorado’s backcourt looks so much more composed this year.
Starting point guard Barrington Hargress has been equally sharp, posting a 3.62 assist-to-turnover ratio (47 assists to 13 turnovers). Together, they’ve helped lift the Buffs to a team-wide assist-to-turnover mark of 1.84 - a major improvement from last season’s struggles in that area.
And it’s not just the starting guards getting it done. Bangot Dak has quietly been one of the steadiest playmakers on the roster, with 24 assists to just eight turnovers.
He had a four-game turnover-free streak snapped against UTSA, but his overall impact has been steady. Meanwhile, forward Sebastian Rancik had his first game of the season with more turnovers (three) than assists (two) against UTSA - a minor blip in what’s otherwise been a strong start.
Boyle sees Johnson’s adaptability as a real asset - especially when paired with Hargress in the backcourt.
“As his game evolves based on scouting reports and matchups, it’ll get harder and harder for teams to key in on him,” Boyle said. “But that’s the beauty of his game.
If you take away his scoring, he can still give you six assists and one turnover. When you’ve got a two-guard like that, and then you’ve got Barrington - it’s tough to scheme against.
If you try to take away Isaiah’s threes, Barrington can burn you. If you try to take away Barrington’s offense, Isaiah can hurt you.”
And the Buffs aren’t just relying on their guards. This is shaping up to be a team that can share the ball, protect possessions, and attack you from multiple angles.
But it’s Johnson’s emergence as a well-rounded threat - not just a shooter - that’s giving Colorado a new dimension. Ten games in, the book on Isaiah Johnson is still being written.
But the early chapters are already showing signs of something special.