Baylor is one of many schools recruiting Jasper Johnson. (X Photo)
Last year Jasper Johnson helped Woodford County win a regional title and reach the state tournament semifinals. Now he’s playing for Link Academy in Branson, Mo., but will be back in Kentucky twice this week to play.
Link will play Thursday in the Marshall County HoopFest and then will be in Louisville Saturday for a marquee matchup against Prolific Prep in the Derek Smith Shootout.
The 6-4 Johnson is a combo guard who is one of the best players in the 2025 recruiting class. He’s a five-star prospect with an offer not only from Kentucky but also offers from Kansas, North Carolina, Baylor, Missouri, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Cal State Bakersfield, Ohio State, Ohio, West Virginia, Xavier and Redford.
There has been speculation he might reclassify to the 2024 recruiting class but he’s said he’s staying in the 2025 class. His father, Dennis Johnson, has also emphasized that he would not reclassify.
Rivals/Yahoo basketball writer Krysten Peek is a Jasper Johnson fan. He was at the USA Basketball event where Peek got to see him in person for the first time this fall.
“That USA camp was stacked with top players and a lot were just out to get their own (points),” Peek said. “Playing at Link has already helped Jasper. He is learning to play off the ball on offense and defense.
“Not being a true point guard, and that is going away in the NBA, he needs to be comfortable on and off the ball and I think he is now from what I saw. He wasn’t forcing anything. He waited for the right moment to make things happen. He wasn’t just driving and shooting. He was patient in what he chose to do with the touches he got and he was very patient with his game.”
