Tre Johnson wasted no time making his presence felt in the NBA Summer League.
In Washington’s opener, the former Texas guard put up 26 points in 28 minutes, knocking down 11 of 20 shots and showing off the kind of scoring touch that made him one of the premier prospects in the 2025 draft class. He also flashed a sharper feel as a playmaker, giving the Wizards a performance that stood out even in a game that had plenty of attention on No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.
Dybantsa delivered too, finishing with 27 points on 18 shots, but Johnson made his own case as one of the night’s biggest winners. He had 18 points by halftime, hitting seven of 11 attempts, and the scoring pace suggested even more was there if he had not been sharing the floor with Dybantsa.
That’s what made the showing so encouraging for Texas fans. The numbers were strong, but the way Johnson got them mattered just as much. He looked like a player operating a step ahead of the competition, which is exactly the sort of impression you want from someone with his draft pedigree.
It’s still one summer league game, and nobody is rushing to crown him based on a single night. Johnson still has plenty to prove before anyone starts talking about the All-Star level. But after this opener, it’s easy to see why there’s real buzz around his development.
If he keeps moving in this direction, Johnson could become a major NBA name for Texas basketball down the line. And if Washington gives the 20-year-old the primary role his talent points toward, the Longhorns may have another player ready to carry that banner once Kevin Durant eventually retires.
In Other News...
Texas Just Lost A Blue Chip Commit Fans Thought Was Safe
Texas 2027 recruiting push took a hit when four-star safety Greedy James changed course after originally pledging to the Longhorns in December. The move came after weeks of speculation, and it is the kind of flip that can sting even when a class is still sitting near the top of the national board.
Even with James gone, Texas is not exactly scrambling to recover. The Longhorns still own a highly regarded 2027 group that remains among the best in the country and near the top of the SEC, which is why this one feels more like a warning sign than a collapse. But losing a blue-chip defender who had been viewed as part of the foundation is the sort of development that keeps a recruiting staff busy long after the headlines fade. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Spears Jr. Just Gave Sean Miller A Huge Texas Moment
Texas basketball has spent the past few years searching for the kind of momentum that can steady a program through coaching turnover and uneven results, and Sean Miller just got a significant boost on the recruiting trail. Marcus Spears Jr., one of the more highly regarded frontcourt prospects in the country, has committed to the Longhorns, giving Texas another cornerstone piece as it tries to build a roster that can hold up in the SEC and eventually make noise in March.
Spears Jr. picked Texas over Arizona, Kentucky and LSU, a win that matters well beyond one signing. The Longhorns have already put together a strong recruiting class and added transfers, and this is the sort of addition that can change the way a roster looks in the seasons ahead, especially in a league where size and depth are never optional. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans Wont Believe What A Rival Coach Said About Sarkisian
Big 12 Media Days usually bring their share of sharp edges between in-state rivals, but Joey McGuire took a different tone when the conversation turned to Steve Sarkisian. The Texas Tech coach made it clear he respects what Sarkisian has built in Austin, pointing to the kind of sustained success that has been hard to find at Texas for a long stretch.
For Longhorn fans, the praise lands with extra weight because it comes from across the Red River rivalry line and arrives after Texas has put together consecutive College Football Playoff trips while also navigating the move to the SEC. McGuire acknowledged how difficult the rebuild has been, which is part of what makes the compliment stand out even more, especially with the two programs still operating in the same heated conference landscape. [Read more 🡒]