Dan Hurley makes his feelings known on Texas star Tre Johnson who reminds him of Jamal Crawford
The 7-3 Texas Longhorns succumbed to the 8-3 UConn Huskies, 76-65, earlier on Sunday, Dec. 8. Despite falling short against the defending back-to-back NCAA Champions, Longhorns freshman Tre Johnson looked like a man amongst boys after he finished with a game-high 24 points, two rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Showcasing his craftiness with the ball, Johnson dazzled the game so much that even Huskies head coach Dan Hurley was impressed. Per Lonestar Live, there's one particular NBA player that stands out for Hurley as a comparison to the 18-year old.
"Jamal Crawford? I would just say his ability to create that separation, obviously the lift on his shot, just the shot-making," Hurley expressed.
As a lanky scorer, Johnson is often compared to Texas alum and NBA superstar Kevin Durant for their ability to score the ball. However, Hurley thinks otherwise, as he further said:
"As he figures it out, as he adds getting to the rim more to what he’s doing out there, I mean, he’s scoring at that three-point level off the dribble (or through) catch and shoot. He’s got so much stuff in his game to hit, tough middies and fadeaways. That was some shotmaking.”
This is heavy praise coming from a coach like Hurley, who has mentored the likes of bonafide NBA scorers, such as Jordan Hawking and Stephon Castle. But with comparison as heavy as Durant and Crawford, who was a three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year, it serves as a testament to the kind of play Johnson has been displaying.
For the 2024-2025 season, the first-year guard is in the top 20 for most points per game average in the nation with 21.1, to go along with 2.7 rebounds and 2 assists. In his first-ever college game, Johnson exploded for 29 markers despite an 80-72 loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes.
He'll have the chance to add to his scoring average when he and the rest of the Longhorns take on the New Mexico State Aggies on Thursday, Dec. 12, to go for their ninth victory of the campaign.
Huskies' Alex Karaban had a hard time guarding Tre Johnson
UConn forward Alex Karaban, who led his team to the victory with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, was also asked about his thoughts on Johnson. The junior stalwart admitted that it was difficult to contain the spitfire guard, sharing:
"He’s a big-time player and he’s obviously No. 1 on the scouting report. Just for him to be able to create off the dribble, he just has such an aggressive scoring mindset. It’s tough to guard. He’s a three-level scorer, and we know we had to be prepared if we wanted to win this game, especially against him."
Luckily for Karaban, he'll no longer have to worry about Johnson at the moment, as the matchup was the culmination of a home-and-home agreement for both teams — meaning they'll square off again next season. The Huskies will take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs next on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Madison Square Garden.