Tre Johnson, who plays guard for Texas and is about to be a top-five NBA draft pick in 2025, has been in the limelight lately because of negative comments concerning his game style, especially his shot selection.
Despite that, a college assistant coach who had a confrontation with Johnson during last season’s games is disputing these allegations. He would prefer that Johnson be seen in a better light, even as far as making comparisons with Jeremiah Fears from Oklahoma to raise Johnson’s underrated playmaking skills.
Scouts are increasingly questioning whether Johnson’s college performance will be an indicator of his NBA performance, which only adds fuel to the ongoing debate over his ability to play in the NBA.
Why Tre Johnson Shouldn’t Be Compared to Jeremiah Fears’ Style
This assistant coach claims that Johnson deserves to be taken seriously in the 2025 NBA Draft, saying that his skill set is completely different from the one attributed to him.
The coach, who chose to remain anonymous, practically made it evident that he prefers Johnson over Fears.
“Probably going to go with Tre (over Fears),” the coach explained. “A lot of people say he’s selfish, but he’s not, really.” This perspective contradicts widespread critics that have labeled Johnson as a ball-dominant player who doesn’t make his teammates better.
The coach pointed to Johnson’s impressive assist-to-turnover ratio as evidence of his unselfish play, noting that Johnson recorded 90 assists to 60 turnovers during his freshman season at Texas. This statistic supports an argument that Johnson’s playmaking abilities have been undervalued in draft discussions.
What separates Johnson from players like Fears, according to the coach, is his decision-making ability under pressure. “He will make the right play at times,” the coach said. “Sometimes he doesn’t, but you expect that with a guy with his talent. He was passing it well. He didn’t force it. Fears would force”.
Johnson’s college numbers support this assessment. The Texas freshman led the SEC in scoring at 19.9 points per game while shooting 40% from three-point range. He also averaged 2.7 assists per game, maintaining better ball security than many scoring guards.
Tre Johnson is the best movement shooter in the 2025 NBA Draft class. Made 54.8% of his 3s off screens as a Texas freshman. Over 40% on total catch-and-shoot 3-point attempts. Shades of Ray Allen. pic.twitter.com/mzaM3w3Qhd
— Kevin O’Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) June 14, 2025
ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla recently joined the defense of Johnson, posting video evidence of the guard’s passing ability on social media. “Some have suggested that Tre Johnson is a selfish player. They probably didn’t watch the Longhorns much this year,” Fraschilla wrote.
The coach also highlighted an area where both guards excel: “Both are extremely good in ball screens.” This skill translates well to the NBA, where the pick-and-roll play remains fundamental.
Despite the criticism, Johnson remains projected as a top-five pick in most mock drafts, with the Utah Jazz frequently mentioned as a landing spot. His scoring ability and improved playmaking make him an attractive option for rebuilding teams looking for offensive firepower.
