“I say to stay true to yourself and listen to your father more.” When a 19-year-old speaks with such depth, you know the goal will never to blurry. Tre Johnson kept it simple by believing in his principles, and as a result, he has moved through the ranks of basketball. From leading Lake Highlands High School to a state championship in 2023 to winning the SEC Freshman of the Year award, the journey revolved around being the best. And now, when the Washington Wizards called his name with the sixth pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, it wasn’t just his win, but everybody behind the growth.
The young Wizards’ pick isn’t just making the headlines for his draft, but for the traction he has managed to gain throughout. From averaging 19.9 points per game in 33 games he started for Texas to breaking a freshman school record by dropping 39 points on Arkansas, topping Kevin Durant’s previous high of 37. But the source of the energy? So, to understand Tre Johnson the athlete, you first have to understand what drives his beliefs.
What is Tre Johnson’s ethnicity?
Tre Johnson’s good name is Richard Earl “Tre” Johnson III, and he is African American, born on March 7, 2006, in Garland, a city northeast of Dallas known for its high school basketball pedigree. The nickname “Tre” isn’t just a catch but refers to his lineage. He shares his name with his father and grandfather, carrying forward a family line tied tightly to hoops. His father, Richard Johnson Jr., made his name as a scoring guard at Baylor before transferring to Midwestern State, where he surpassed 1,000 career points and earned a spot in the MSU Athletics Hall of Honor.
After his playing days, he returned to Dallas as a coach at Lake Highlands High School. The same school where his son would eventually lead a title run that brought home the school’s first state championship since 1968. That shared path was anything but accidental. “I didn’t know how good Tre was going to be,” his father told Hoops HQ, “but I saw a lot of potential and a lot of myself in him.” It’s a bond built on film study, gym sessions, and courtside lessons about life. Tre wears jersey No. 20 as a tribute to his father’s playing days. When the draft cameras cut to their green room moment, it was hard to tell who was prouder.
What religion does Tre Johnson follow?
Tre Johnson has not made any public declarations about religion, nor do his interviews include scripture quotes. Even the go-to social media pages don’t reference faith directly. What is clear is that Johnson moves with a quiet discipline that suggests something deeper at work. There’s humility in how he speaks about his rise.
He constantly credits others — his family, his coaches, and his teammates. There is never a trace of flash for flash’s sake. If he was raised in a faith tradition, its impact comes through in his grounded approach and steady voice, not in public declarations. In a sports culture that often demands a headline-ready brand, Johnson’s decision to keep his spiritual life out of view feels deliberate.
What is Tre Johnson’s nationality?
Tre Johnson is American by nationality. Not in a generic sense, but in the way that’s shaped by place, history, and local pride. Garland was his starting point, but it was Dallas that sharpened his game. At Lake Highlands, he became a hometown hero. Leading the Wildcats to a long-awaited state title and racking up honors like Texas Mr. Basketball and MaxPreps National Junior of the Year.
He transferred to Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, for his senior year, joining one of the country’s top prep programs. The numbers in his senior year stayed strong — 15.5 points, 3.6 assists, 3.3 rebounds, with blistering shooting percentages. But his focus wasn’t just on stats. It was on proving he could adapt, lead, and stay efficient in a system filled with elite prospects. He graduated from high school with over 2,500 career points, a McDonald’s All-American nod, and scholarship offers from across the Power Five.
He chose Texas over his father’s alma mater, Baylor. The decision wasn’t easy, but the conversations were honest. “We had talks about it,” Tre said in his commitment interview. “At the end of the day, he wanted me to do what was best for me.” The season that followed wasn’t just impressive, but defining. He even broke Kevin Durant’s freshman single-game scoring record with a 39-point performance against Arkansas.
Johnson’s consistency, his ability to score from all three levels, and his willingness to take big shots in big moments made him a standout in a loaded draft class. Now, as he steps into the NBA, Tre Johnson brings with him the full weight of a personal and basketball legacy. He isn’t trying to be the next Durant, Beal, or Harden. He’s trying to be himself, fully, completely, and without apology. Tre once said the biggest thing he shares with his father is “how hard we work, and our competitive spirit.” That spirit now belongs to the Washington Wizards.
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