Texas basketball recruit Tre Johnson lights up scoreboard at McDonald's All-American Game

Texas basketball recruit Tre Johnson gave the Longhorns a little taste of next season while putting on a shooting display at Tuesday’s McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston.

The 6-foot-6 Johnson, who signed with Texas in November, started for the West team and scored 17 points in 23 minutes, 26 seconds of play at the annual showcase for the nation’s top high school basketball players. The guard did most of his damage from the perimeter while shooting 6-of-9 from the floor, including making five of his seven 3-point attempts.

Johnson also had four rebounds and three assists in the West’s 88-86 loss to the East.

More:Texas basketball recruit Tre Johnson, a McDonald's All-American, looking forward to next season

Where will Tre Johnson fit on next year’s Texas team?

He’ll likely slide immediately into a starter’s role in the backcourt, especially since Texas has lost its two leading scorers – Max Abmas and Dylan Disu – to graduation. Coach Rodney Terry settled on a three-guard lineup this past season that included Abmas and Ithiel Horton as well as Tyrese Hunter. Abmas and Horton have completed their eligibility, and Hunter has said he will explore his professional options but could also return to Texas.

Chendall Weaver will also return after a breakout sophomore season as a shooting guard, and he could start or retain his role as a bench energizer. Touted freshman shooting guard Chris Johnson reportedly entered the transfer portal on Tuesday, which frees up even more room in the backcourt for Johnson and fellow incoming freshman Cam Scott, a 6-6 combo guard who recently received his second consecutive South Carolina Gatorade Player of the year honor.

Based on the current roster and the incoming class of recruits, Johnson could team with Hunter and Weaver in a 3-guard lineup and Scott could come off the bench. Since both reserve guard Gavin Perryman and walk-on guard Jackson Prince have entered the portal, however, Texas has no backcourt depth. Expect Texas coach Rodney Terry and his staff to mine the portal to find a guard who can play the point

More:Who might Texas Longhorns basketball target in the portal? Here are 10 players to watch.

What kind of player is Tre Johnson?

Johnson, a smooth offensive player who can score at all three levels, is a 5-star recruit from the Dallas area who would have been the top-ranked recruit for the 2024 class in Texas but played his senior season at Link Academy in Missouri. He’s ranked by 247Sports' composite ratings as the No. 6 overall prospect for his class in the nation.

As a junior in 2022-23, Johnson averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists while leading Lake Highlands High School to a 34-3 record and the Class 6A Texas state championship. He converted 53% from the floor a year ago, including 42% from 3-point range, and he hit 91% from the free-throw line.

This past season at Link Academy, Johnson earned the 2023-24 Missouri MaxPreps Player of the Year award after leading the Lions to a 25-6 record against other prep powerhouses. For the season, he averaged 15.5 points, 3.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per contest while shoot nearly 40% from 3-point range and 90.5% from the free throw line.

Johnson is the 24th player to sign a letter of intent with the UT men's program and get selected to the McDonald's All-American Game. That list includes Holland, a forward in the 2023 class who signed to play at Texas but never enrolled in order to purse professional options last summer.

Forward Dillon Mitchell of the 2022 class is the only McDonald’s All-American currently on the Texas roster.