Milwaukee Juneau off to historic start behind Gonzaga commit

Junior guard Dooney Johnson leads the Pioneers' charge as they aim for their first state tournament appearance.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 4:03am

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The Milwaukee Juneau Pioneers boys basketball team is off to one of its best starts in program history, fueled by the standout play of junior guard Dooney Johnson, a 4-star Gonzaga commit who is averaging nearly 28 points per game. Johnson and his father, Torre Johnson, the team's head coach, hope to lead Juneau to its first-ever state tournament appearance.

Why it matters

Juneau's strong season is a source of pride and renewed energy for the Milwaukee City Conference, as the Pioneers look to show that players from Milwaukee Public Schools can flourish and earn opportunities at top college programs like Gonzaga.

The details

The 6-foot-6 Johnson is the Pioneers' all-time leading scorer and one of the top 30 recruits in the country for the Class of 2027. After a breakout sophomore season and standout play on the AAU circuit, Johnson committed to Gonzaga over offers from Wisconsin and Marquette. His father, Torre, is a former Juneau player who took over as head coach last summer after serving as an assistant for the past seven seasons.

  • Juneau is off to one of its best starts in program history this season.
  • Dooney Johnson is averaging nearly 28 points and over 8 rebounds per game.

The players

Dooney Johnson

A 6-foot-6 junior guard and 4-star Gonzaga commit who is the Pioneers' all-time leading scorer and one of the top 30 recruits in the country for the Class of 2027.

Torre Johnson

The head coach of the Milwaukee Juneau boys basketball team and a former Pioneers player himself, who took over the program last summer after serving as an assistant for the past seven seasons.

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What they’re saying

“This is our by far best season going against great competition and playing how we've been playing, so it's really a great season.”

— Dooney Johnson, Milwaukee Juneau junior guard

“To be able to come over to your alma mater, and then to not only coach your son, but also coach kids that you've been working with for quite a while now, so for me, it's like a dream come true.”

— Torre Johnson, Milwaukee Juneau head coach

What’s next

Dooney Johnson and the Pioneers are aiming to lead Juneau to its first-ever state tournament appearance.

The takeaway

Juneau's historic season, led by Dooney Johnson and his father Torre, is a source of pride and renewed energy for the Milwaukee City Conference, showing that players from the city's public schools can excel and earn opportunities at top college programs.