By ADAM ZAGORIA
Tre Johnson has never won a gold medal before, but it could happen for him this summer.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Dallas (TX) Lake Highlands and the Houston Hoops is among 14 finalists for the USA U19 team that will compete at the 2023 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup later this month in Hungary. The final roster of 12 will be announced this week.
“It would mean a lot to me just being able to compete with other good players knowing that I was one of the 12 taken to represent for the country,” Johnson said Wednesday by phone from Colorado Springs.
He added: “That would be very cool doing the sport you love and competing for the country.
As far as his recruitment, the No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2024 has a top six of Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, and Texas.
Coaches from various chools were at USA Basketball this week keeping tabs on the top players. Kansas coach Bill Self and three assistants were in attendance Monday ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals for Johnson and several other prospects.
Johnson broke down his top six: Kentucky: “I could be one of their one-and-done players, one of their guys that comes there for eight months and goes on to be a pro and develop in the NBA.” Kansas: “I could come in and jell with the team and also try and win the [NCAA] Tournament and also be one of their guards that goes to the NBA.” Baylor: “I could be one of their guards that they give freedom to, allowed to make plays and also look good on the court and also get ready for the NBA.” (Johnson’s father, Richard Johnson Jr., played college basketball at Baylor before transferring to Midwestern State. His father is also an assistant coach at Lake Highlands.) Arkansas: “Also be one of their one-and-done guys but they could help me in different areas of my game. They have a lot of coaches who coached pro teams or were assistant coaches on pro teams, so they kind of know what it looks like.’ Alabama: “They would try to use me the way that they used Brandon [Miller] to raise his stock and help get better, and develop him for the NBA” Texas: “Texas’s main pitch to me was I could be one of their one-and-done guys who comes in, develops what he wants to goes to the NBA.” Johnson said he has no timetable on a decision but hopes to visit Alabama and Arkansas sometime this summer. “I don’t have a time frame,” he said. “When I know for sure is probably when I’m going to commit.” Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter Follow ZAGSBLOGHoops on Instagram And Like ZAGS on FacebookKansas was 4 deep at @usabjnt today for
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 12, 2023
Tre Johnson
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