With the 2025 NBA Draft only days away, former Texas guard Tre Johnson remains projected to become Texas’ 10th lottery pick in the history of the program and the first since 2019.
There should be no surprises with the first two picks, with Duke forward Cooper Flagg likely heading to Dallas and Rutgers guard Dylan Harper to San Antonio. However, the rest of the draft remains unknown as teams have their pick from a talented pool that includes Johnson.
Analysts atCBS Sports have predicted in their 2025 mock draft that Johnson will be selected no later than the sixth pick. Adam Finkelstein and Gary Parrish have Johnson going third to the Philadelphia 76ers, while Kyle Boone predicts Johnson will be selected two spots later by the Utah Jazz.
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If Johnson does go No. 3, he will be the highest Longhorn pick since 2007. LaMarcus Aldridge and Kevin Durant were both selected second in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
Johnson is currently one of four prospects for the 76ers, a group that includes former Rutgers guard Ace Bailey, Baylor guard VJ Edgecombe and Duke guard Kon Knueppel. According toESPN, the 76ers “have not ruled out” Bailey despite his refusal to visit, which was not a surprise for the only U.S.-based prospect who has not worked out with a team yet.
But with other talent to choose from, Philadelphia may not want to hedge its bets on Bailey. As of right now, it seems as though Johnson, Edgecombe or Knueppel will end up heading to the City of Brotherly Love.
“While (Edgecombe) is definitely still a possibility, the Sixers are also believed to be extremely interested in Johnson,” Finkelstein wrote in his draftexplanation. “He is a potent scorer and shot-maker who not only put up big numbers right away at Texas last year but exceeded expectations with his overall efficiency while doing it.”
In Johnson’s year with the Longhorns, he certainly made a case for his potential as one of the first draft picks off the board. Johnson became just the sixth freshman to lead the Southeastern Conference in scoring with 19.9 points per game. Named SEC Freshman of the Year, Johnson claimed spots on the All-SEC Second Team and five-person All-SEC Freshman Team by the league’s coaches.
While he remains unfazed shooting threes from the corner, he does not let his opponents feel that same ease if he can, Johnson said during the SEC Tournament.
“I’m a big trash talker,” Johnson said to the Texan. “I like to get under guys’ skin, and I just do it in little ways.”
Whether Johnson ends up with the 76ers or with another team is yet to be seen, but according to most draft predictions, Longhorn fans shouldn’t be waiting too long on June 25 to see Johnson get selected.
The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft begins at 7 p.m. CDT on Wednesday.