Confident Jasper Johnson knows what making state tourney meant to Woodford County fans

Kentucky assistant coach Orlando Antigua has been to watch Jasper Johnson practice and play this season.

Woodford County sophomore Jasper Johnson has dreamed of playing in the state tournament in Rupp Arena like a lot of other high school basketball players. However, he knows Woodford winning the 8th Region to make it to Rupp Arena is about more than just the players.

“It meant a lot to our community too. We have not been to the state tournament for 37 years (1986),” said Johnson.

The 6-2 Johnson is a big reason Woodford beat Collins 44-21 in the region final and will play Jeffersontown in the state’s opening game at 11 a.m. Wednesday. He had 17 points and 10 rebounds in the regional final.

He averages 20.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and shoots 51 percent overall from the field and 38 percent from 3 with 67 made 3-pointers. He’s also a 78 percent shooter at the foul line.

Johnson is ranked as the No. 26 player in the 2025 recruiting class by 247Sports Composite and already has offers from Cincinnati, Louisville, Texas A&M and Xavier with interest from a lot of schools, including Kentucky.

“We felt very confident going into postseason play,” Johnson said. “We are playing really good defense right now. We have been watching film of Jeffersontown and I think we will match up well.”

Woodford has won seven straight games to boost its record to 20-12. If it wins Wednesday, it would play the Elizabethtown-McCracken County winner on Friday in the state quarterfinals.

The regional final was an extremely low scoring game with Woodford down 12-10 at halftime. The Yellowjackets held Collins to nine points in the second half.

“Our coaches told us just to stay calm at halftime and to turn the defense up even more but I never remember a team scoring just 21 points, especially in a regional final,” Johnson said. “I really think our defense is what makes us a good team. We can force turnovers and get out in transition. That gets us going.”

Johnson has had to battle a “couple of injuries” this season but feels his season has gone “pretty good” going into the state tourney.

“I feel like when I am on the court I am going to produce,” Johnson said. “I am very confident in my offensive game and ability to create for myself or others as needed.”

Johnson spends a lot of time working out on his own and that often includes his father, Woodford County football coach/athletics director Dennis Johnson who was an all-SEC defensive lineman at UK and played in the NFL.

“I usually go to the gym to work out and shoot,” the Woodford sophomore said. “I usually do it for about two hours or until I feel comfortable with what I have done. Dad does work out against me sometimes but he can’t stay with me that long any more.”

Jasper Johnson says recruiting is going well and he knows it will pick up when AAU season starts soon.

“I am definitely enjoying recruiting. I am hearing from a lot of schools and meeting a lot of people that are watching us play,” Jasper Johnson said. “There were some coaches watching us in the region and I know there will be more at state which is good for our team.”