A young man who worked the boards in Branson is about to do the same in the NBA.

Tre Johnson, who was a legendary player at Link Academy, was taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards. 

Johnson played only one year with Link Academy where he helped the team to a 26-7 record while averaging 15.5 points, 3.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game. He was selected to play in the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game. His Link squad lost in the semifinals of the 2024 Chipotle National Tournament.

He grew up in the Dallas area and went to college at the University of Texas. He played one season for the Longhorns, playing in 33 games averaging 19.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The team went 19-16 in the regular season and 6-12 in the SEC. They lost to Xavier in the First Four of the NCAA Men’s Tournament.

Johnson was the SEC’s 2025 Freshman of the Year.

Rodney Terry, a former head coach at Link Academy who was Johnson’s coach at Texas, praised Johnson after his selection by the Wizards.

“We are all so proud of you,” Terry posted on his X account. “From the first time I watched you play as a freshman I was convinced you would be an NBA Lottery pick. It was a privilege to recruit, and coach you during your year in college. Congrats to The Washington Wizards, you guys got a winner!”

Johnson is the fourth Link Academy graduate to head into the NBA. 

Julian Phillips was selected 35th in the 2023 draft by the Boston Celtics and then traded to the Chicago Bulls. He played in 79 games last season, averaging 4.6 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game.

Jordan Walsh was drafted 38th in the 2023 draft by the Sacramento Kings and traded to the Boston Celtics. He’s played mostly with the Maine Celtics of the G League, although he played in five games for the Celtics last season.

Last year, Ja’Kobe Walter was drafted 19th by the Toronto Raptors. He was sent back and forth to the G League several times but still played in 52 games for the Raptors, averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.