The moment Isaiah Johnson’s three splashed through the net in front of Dwyane Wade, the roar said it all.
The freshman guard, playing his first college game, in front of his godfather, had just delivered the kind of shot kids dream about. And he didn’t flinch.
“Just be me,” Johnson said later. “That’s what they kept telling me all game. I was a little hesitant in the first half, but once I saw one go in, I just kept being aggressive.”
Johnson finished with 24 points in 26 minutes, sparking Colorado past Montana State 84–78 on opening night. His second-half composure steadied the Buffs after a shaky defensive performance that left head coach Tad Boyle alternating between pride and frustration.
“He doesn’t play like a freshman,” Boyle said. “When the game’s on the line, you feel comfortable with the ball in his hands.”
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The confidence runs deep. Johnson’s father, Chris Johnson, is one of the NBA’s most respected trainers, a skill developer whose clients have included LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Tyrese Maxey, and countless others. Basketball, for Isaiah, isn’t just familiar; it’s generational.
He’s grown up around greatness, and now he’s carving his own path.
Dwyane Wade loves what he’s seeing from freshman Isaiah Johnson 👀
Johnson leads the Buffs with 22 points 🔥 pic.twitter.com/48oRGp9Qk3
— DNVR Buffs (@DNVR_Buffs) November 4, 2025
“I’ve dreamed about this since I was a kid,” Johnson said. “Playing in front of a college crowd, hearing them get loud like that — it was amazing.”
Boyle credited Elijah Malone’s eight offensive rebounds as the game’s statistical difference, but no one inside the CU Events Center needed a box score to see who owned the night. Each time Montana State closed the gap, Johnson delivered — a pull-up jumper, a step-through finish, a calm stare toward the bench that said he belonged.
“Pretty cool,” Boyle smiled, recalling Wade’s courtside presence. “I’m a big Dwyane Wade fan. He loves Isaiah, and you could feel that energy tonight.”
For Colorado, it was a hard-fought win. For Isaiah Johnson, it was a debut that felt like the start of something much bigger.
