“Better Than Cooper Flagg”: Texas Freshman Turns Heads In CBS Sports’ Bold NBA Draft Stance.
As is often the case in college hoops, it’s tough for fans to form lasting bonds with “one-and-done” stars. Just when you start to cheer for them, they’re off to the NBA. But every now and then, a few leave such a mark in their short stay that they’re remembered forever. Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey fall into that category—they lit up the court and earned a special place in their school’s history. And while those names got plenty of national buzz, one player quietly carved out his own legacy in Austin. No big headlines, no constant spotlight–just game after game of steady brilliance. He might not have made as much noise, but he’s now firmly part of Texas basketball history.
Yes, consensus five-star recruit and one of the top prospects in the 2024 class, Tre Johnson, has officially declared for the NBA Draft after just one season with the Longhorns. “This season was a roller-coaster ride,” Johnson said. “But it was a great experience, wins and losses aside. Going up against the best teams in the country. Playing at Texas was the best experience I’ve ever had, being with a great group of guys and a great coaching staff.”
It was definitely a topsy-turvy ride for Texas, which kicked off the season ranked 19th in the nation. The expectations? Sky-high. But reality didn’t quite keep pace. The Longhorns ended the year with a 6-12 record in SEC play, landing them at 13th in the standings—nowhere near the level many had predicted. Still, amid the chaos and inconsistency, one player stood out. The 19-year-old guard rose to the occasion and shone the brightest. Analysts over at the CBS Sports College Basketball podcast definitely believe it was a memorable season for Tre Johnson. In fact, they have him going pretty high on their NBA Draft board, and it’s easy to see why.
Kyle Boone had nothing but praise for Tre Johnson on the podcast. He said, “So we’re talking about Tre Johnson. One-and-done, Texas freshman. 6’6, averaged 19.9 points per game last season. That was, of course, better than anyone else in this year’s freshman class–better than Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey–and he did it on pretty high efficiency….I think the development that we saw from Trey Johnson was certainly very encouraging. He has also moved into my top five.”
