Kansas basketball: Top 5 remaining must-have 2024 recruits for the Jayhawks

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 07: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks speaks during a postgame press conference after the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 07: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks speaks during a postgame press conference after the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on March 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
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Tre Johnson (20) at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam
Tre Johnson (20) at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam

5. Tre Johnson

No. 3 ranked recruit in C/O 2024, No. 1 ranked SG

You cannot name five better players than Tre Johnson in the upcoming recruiting class if you’ve tried. He is an explosive athlete with one of the smoothest jumpers in his position. Johnson will, without question, be an NBA player after his one-and-done season at the collegiate level.

While bringing Johnson aboard would be a massive win for Bill Self — one of the biggest for him since he was hired by KU 20 years ago — it is highly, highly unlikely. He will choose from Arkansas, Kansas, Alabama, Texas, Kentucky, and Baylor, but the consensus is that the Jayhawks are near the bottom of the list.

His father, Richard Johnson Jr., played college ball at Baylor. He is also an assistant coach at the high school attends. Therefore, it is safe to assume that his family will play a big role in where he chooses to go to school, making Baylor the clear favorite to land him.

Even if he decides to not follow in his father’s footsteps, Texas and Kentucky are considered close seconds. It is not inconceivable to fathom a scenario where Johnson commits to KU — there is a better chance of it happening than landing Dylan Harper or some other highly touted incoming seniors — but it’s something Jayhawk fans should not count on, at least for the moment.