USA bucket-getter Johnson impressed with world's game

DEBRECEN (Hungary) - Tre Johnson has been as good as advertised as USA's youngest player leads the team in scoring at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2023. But the star talent has been impressed with the quality of the rest of the world in his first FIBA experience.

"It's a lot harder than a lot of people think it is. You actually have to come out and perform and play. Other guys from around the world can play as well."

Johnson has poured in 14.0 points per game through the first four games to go along with 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. It was impressive enough to warrant a spot as the unofficial MVP of Group B.

"It feels good to be here. Playing FIBA basketball is an honor and a blessing to be able to play for Team USA," said Johnson, who is shooting 57 percent on two-pointers, 44 percent from long range, and made all 11 of his free throws.

Johnson only turned 17 on March 7 and is playing against players two years older as one of two USA players born in 2006. But USA head coach Tad Boyle has been impressed with the youngster.

"He is very coachable, wants to learn and get better. We all know how talented he is. Tre's ball just goes in the basket. He's a bucket-getter. He can score the ball with ease. We're really trying to challenge him defensively," Boyle said.

Johnson himself describes his game as such: "Playmaking shot creator who can make plays for himself and others."

Johnson, who is 5 days younger than fellow 2006-born Dylan Harper, said the older players on the USA team have really helped him with their experience in the game.

"Just knowing times to pick and knowing the spots when they will be open throughout the course of the offense,” Johnson said.

Even though things have looked easy for Johnson, the USA have have struggled at times in the tournament, including trailing Slovenia by 11 points in the fourth quarter before finally winning 77-72.

When asked what he learned from the Slovenia game, Johnson, who scored all 11 of his points in the fourth quarter, said: "You're never out of the game. Just keep fighting, keep playing. If you can not put yourself in the hole, you may as well not do that. And don't underestimate anybody."

Johnson is one of six USA players making their international basketball debut. And it's been an eye-opening experience for him.

"It's a lot harder than a lot of people think it is. You actually have to come out and perform and play. Other guys from around the world can play as well," he said.

Johnson hails from Dallas, Texas, which is right now one of the biggest hotbeds in the USA. Six players from the Dallas-Fort Worth area were selected in the 2023 NBA Draft, and USA Basketball regularly has had Dallas area players on their U19 teams: PJ Washington in 2017, Cade Cunningham and Isaac Likelele in 2019, and Harrison Ingram in 2021.

"Dallas basketball has always been pretty good. We just like to compete and make everybody else better," Johnson said.

Tyrese Maxey

One player Johnson looks up to is Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers. Maxey, who played at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2018, is also from Dallas.

"He is from the same area so seeing him in the NBA and be successful. He’s one of the guys I look up to," Johnson said. "I got my game from just working out and working hard, I didn't know what I wanted to be but I just knew that I wanted to be the best."

Johnson is battling with Harper for the number one spot in the 2024 US high school class. And being the best means no rest, which is something Johnson lives by.

"My basketball motto is: Go 100 percent every day. Don't take any days off."

Now there is one goal left in Debrecen for Johnson: to show the rest of the world that USA are the best.

FIBA