No. 1-ranked high school basketball player in class of 2024 includes KU on list of 6
Tre Johnson, the consensus No. 1-ranked high school basketball player in the recruiting Class of 2024, on Monday included Kansas on his list of six schools.
Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 180-pound senior-to-be shooting guard from Dallas’ Lake Highlands High, in a post on Instagram indicated he would announce for either KU, Kentucky, Baylor, Texas, Arkansas or Alabama, possibly prior to the Peach Jam AAU tournament July 3-9 in North Augusta, South Carolina.
Johnson — he visited KU on May 5-7 — averaged 21.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists a game his junior year at Lake Highlands.
He hit 53% of his shots, including 41% of his threes. He’s a 91% free throw shooter.
Of KU, he told On3.com: “They’re going to let their guards play, regardless. They’re made off of defense and winning. They win and I want to be around a winning culture.”
Johnson on Monday eliminated Duke, North Carolina, Tennessee, Auburn and others.
“Tre Johnson has a good frame with plenty of room to continue adding muscle,” wrote Jamie Shaw of On3.com. “He has natural length and above-average pop and quickness. His calling card is his shooting. Johnson is a knockdown shooter with deep range, able to make shots off the catch or the bounce. He has great balance with a repeatable release at all levels. His footwork is very impressive.
“He is able to attack his spots in the halfcourt, whether setting up in the mid-post or on the perimeter. ... Johnson has a smooth game. He does not get rushed, and he is filled with confidence when the ball is in his hands. He has the dimensions to be a solid defender, with the length and IQ, understanding of positioning. His dad (Richard Johnson) signed with Baylor out of high school and was a 1,000 point scorer throughout college (at BU and Midwestern State).”
In four games at the City of Palms Tournament in December of 2022, Tre Johnson averaged 23.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds with four assists and three blocked shots in the championship game of the Allen Holiday Invitational on Dec. 28 in Texas.
“When you look at him, he kind of fits the mold of what a 2-guard looks like,” ESPN national recruiting writer Paul Biancardi said as quoted by wholehogsports.com. “He has terrific positional size, understands how to create his own shot and make the spot-up shot. He has a quick first step to the basket with fluid movement. In my mind, he’s a natural scorer.
“You always want to be great at what you’re good at, and his forte is putting the ball in the basket. His shot preparation is advanced for his age. On the catch, his body balance, elevation and clean release aide his shooting prowess.”
Liam McNeeley considering KU
Liam McNeeley, a 6-8, 210 senior-to-be forward from Montverde (Florida) Academy and the Florida Rebels AAU program, has KU on his list of schools. McNeeley, a native of Richardson, Texas, is considering KU, Indiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and others.
McNeeley, Rivals.com’s No. 7-ranked player in the Class of 2024, said he’s considering a visit to KU.
“McNeeley’s recruitment has long felt like a Texas-vs-Indiana tilt and it continues to have that feel he heads into the final stretch.” wrote Rob Cassidy of Rivals.com. “The Hoosiers seem to have built a slight lead during the period of uncertainty in Austin, but that gap may be closing. For now, IU still feels like the team to beat, ... but nothing is even close to set in stone when it comes to the five-star’s college decision.”
McNeeley averaged 13.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game for Montverde last season.
Harper talks about KU
Dylan Harper, a 6-5, 180 pound senior-to-be shooting guard from Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey, is considering KU, Duke, Indiana, Rutgers and Auburn. He’s ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2024 by ESPN.com.
“Biggest part of going to college is winning, and Kansas is always winning. They’re always in the mix for national championships,” Harper told Rivalshoops.com from last weekend’s AAU event in Carrollton, Texas. “That’s the biggest factor they have working for them. They check in on me a lot and ask me how I’m doing.”
