Jasper Johnson with his parents during his Kentucky visit. (UK Athletics Photo)
Many national recruiting analysts — and social media — continue to speculate that Kentucky is a long shot to land shooting guard Jasper Johnson.
The 6-4 Johnson won a gold medal with USA Basketball this summer and is ranked as a top 10 prospect by some recruiting services but On3 has him No. 22 on its updated recruiting rankings this week.
Johnson’s father is Woodford County High School football coach Dennis Johnson, a former all-SEC lineman at UK. Jasper Johnson helped Woodford reach the 2023 state tournament semifinals before playing last season at Link Academy in Missouri. He’ll play his senior season with Overtime Elite in Atlanta.
Jasper Johnson plans to make his college choice in about two weeks and has Alabama, North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisville and Kentucky in his final five. Speculation has Alabama as his leader with North Carolina a close second and UK a distant third.
Dennis Johnson has seen and heard the speculation. He says it is not true.
“We have not sat down as a family yet and even thought about a final decision,” Dennis Johnson said. “I talk to coaches every night and they talk to Jasper, too.”
Jasper is in Oregon now for a Nike event and has been invited by Vanessa Bryant, Kobe Bryant’s widow, to attend the Mamba Camp Aug. 24 in California.
“I guess they saw Jasper play and were talking that he is a kid they would want to come to the (Mamba) camp,” Dennis said. “That’s a very big deal for him.”
He’s also been invited to the Formula Zero Elite Camp led by NBA star Damian Lillard Aug. 14-17.
What about the nightly calls from coaches? Does the message change?
“It’s really the same stuff at this point. They all always slide in that they are trying to get a commitment and want to know what else they can do to get that commitment,” Dennis said. “I tell them they have said what they can and the ball is in our court now.”
The Johnsons are going to a family reunion in western Kentucky Saturday. Kentucky coach Mark Pope wants to talk with every family member present.
“My aunties and a lot of them will love that because they are big Kentucky fans,” Dennis said.
He had a 50-minute call with North Carolina coach Hubert Davis on a drive home earlier this week.
“Really, they are all good dudes. I know they are just doing their jobs,” Dennis said. “Cal (John Calipari) has been throwing jabs and asking a lot of questions. He’s very serious about Jasper. They all have their little gimmicks to talk about. It’s been interesting and sometimes a little crazy to talk with all these guys.
“I try to accommodate everyone. I have (football) practice, meetings and other stuff. Sometimes when a coach calls you don’t want to talk but I try to be respectful and not cut anyone off and Jasper is the same way anywhere he goes. You never know who you will meet and what kind of future connection that can be.”
The Johnsons did make a one-day visit to Kentucky last week.
“We were in the office with Pope for about an hour and then Jasper watched practice while me and Pope talked for another hour,” Dennis said.
With so much speculation on NIL dollars and how much athletes may or may not receive, Dennis Johnson said that will not be the deciding factor in Jasper’s decision.
“We are not going to base the decision on who is the highest bidder. Heck, I am still buying his tennis shoes and food and just bought him a new set of tires and fixed his air conditioner,” Dennis said. “It’s about the best fit for Jasper and where he’ll develop the best. Where that will be has not been decided no matter what anyone says.”
39 Responses
Come be a Wildcat like your dad. The fans will love you and you’ll be a great fit in Coach Pope’s strategy .
We could let the good times roll with Jasper, Maliciah, Travis and Trent.
It would be sweet!
stay home Jasper BBN loves you
Dennis Johnson is nothing but a class act and it looks like the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. The worst thing that could happen for Jasper would be to go to a school where he would be a starter, but prove not ready for starter’s minutes, i.e., DJ Wagner. Practicing and playing with Perry, Chandler, and Noah will make him a better player, even if that means coming off the bench in year 1. He is a dominant left hand driver and finisher and that has served him well in high school. He needs to get stronger with his right hand, work on improving his mid range and 3 point shooting, and get much stronger on the defensive end. Playing for Mark Pope and on a Pope team will give him more opportunity to do that in steps rather than being thrown into a starter’s role immediately and likely be a disappointment. I hope he chooses Kentucky if he is open to being a multi year Wildcat. If being OAD is more important to him, another team might be a better fit.
All valid points. ✔️
Pope is traveling the road less travelled, taking the byways (spending time with the Aunts & family members who would otherwise just be watching.
Close relatives can be a big influence if several of them are all in agreement that they hope he chooses UK.
I think Pope has made a wise choice and it will help improve UK’s chance.
DJ Wagner is starter material. He was hampered by injuries this past season. I don’t know how you could’ve missed that memo. You fans who haven’t played a lick of college sports need to learn the game before speaking nonsense.
DJ as good as he is isn’t better than Dillingham or Sheppard. He just wasn’t. Every game was the same thing DJ and Edwards started and we got down 10 points and Dillingham and Sheppard had to try and save us. DJ will be a very good player. He has the will to win and doesn’t mind getting after it on defense. It’s all about his 3pt shot. If he continues to improve then he will be great.
Barry, you’re on one article commenting that Jasper is a "me-first" kid, then doing a complete 180 with your assessment here: which is it?
I think when all is said and done, Jasper will wear another school’s jersey, but it sounds like he’s got some great guidance in the form of his dad. Very few can imagine the pressures associated with high-level recruitment and this kid is being pulled in a million different directions. With all the demands being placed upon him, I wouldn’t be surprised if some part of him would rather go elsewhere BECAUSE of the fanatical basketball following here at UK. Everyone loves the idea of a storybook career (homegrown talent decides to play multiple years at the state school, winning a title along the way) but the reality is that you have one window when it comes to decisions like this. The money is one thing, sure, but Jasper has an entire world of opportunity in front of him. Why come to a school like Kentucky where the Barry Pritchetts of the world will take pot shots at your character without, admittedly, ever having interacted with the kid?
Good points, Whiskey. I was thinking the same thing. The other day, I thought if Jasper read the comments by Barry, why would he come here???
Guarantee Barry has never sat down with this kid and discussed what he is looking for. I had Dennis Johnson in class years ago when I taught some classes for Harrodsburg. Seemed like a good kid and doesn’t appear that he has disappointed as a father or a coach.
When people don’t know, they shouldn’t make up crap they can’t back up.
I have watched tapes of his Summer play. Maybe you should UTube it too. There are some bright spots, but there are a lot of dark ones too. Maybe you need to get your facts right before you shoot off your mouth. His game needs a lot of work. Pope is the best coach to oversee that development. I hope he comes to UK, but if he doesn’t come with the attitude that he needs major development, he should go somewhere else.
Facts! 💯
Not all UK fans are like that…me for one. I hope he picks UK but if not wish the young man the best wherever he goes.
Here’s why… "IT’S KENTUCKY" as Reed Sheppard said. It’s a different animal when you are a KENTUCKY kid. Especially one that grew up watching Kentucky basketball…him, maliciah, perry, and noah have a real chance of winning a championship together even if it’s not in 1 year. Besides that at kentucky n.i.l. is different than anywhere else, because it’s a culture. This culture was around long before Calapri was a coach. AS LONG AS THERE IS A UNITED STATES THERE WILL BE KENTUCKY BASKETBALL…
I guess this will be a win win for you two holier than thou fans. If he comes to UK, it will be in spite of me. If he goes somewhere else, it will be because of me. You will be right either way. His game needs a lot of development and I think Kentucky would be the best place for him to get that. It would be great for a hometown kid to stay home and get that development over the next 2 to 3 years, but I have yet to hear him say that Kentucky was the only place for me like we have heard from Perry, Noah, and some of the recent transfers. Those are the kids who are focused on helping Pope bring No. 9 and more to Kentucky. Maybe Johnson will feel the same way, but has yet to voice that in any of his comments. You two guys must be Calipari lovers and need someone to hate on now that he is gone. Go ahead and hate on me if it makes you feel better. I will be ok. Go CATS!!!
Noah was originally committed to South Carolina
That was because Calipari would not offer him a scholarship.
EVERYONE should note anything put on line cannot be erased. Best to hold your toung/fingers with anything that could be a detriment to any of the programs. I’ll say this – Jasper will reap untold benefits staying home – in this day and age if it doesn’t work out he has a myriad of options.
He’s a Cat.
Jasper is most definitely a me first kid. Even more then the usual one and done kid. He drives recklessly into the paint with 3 kids on him and throws up 20 circus shots a game and scores 18 points. He’s a below 50% shooter from past 10 feet out. He’s out of control. He’s way more out of control than Dillingham was at times but Dillingham is and was much better coming out of high school. Hudson Greer is who Mark Pope needs to come to Lexington and play with Perry and Noah and Oweh and Garrison and Chandler. Then bring in Moreno and I would go with Magwood at the point. He’s very shifty. I’ll even say this…. Magwood is better than Johnson. I’ve seen both of them play and I would choose Magwood over Johnson because he’s more of a team player. Hell he could average 30 ppg but he only shoots it 8-10 times a game. Still averaging the same that Jasper Johnson does. Jasper Johnson is waaaaaaaaay overrated and I’ve said this since everyone was saying he was coming to Kentucky. I’m just not a fan of his game. He acts very spoiled to me. Just look at his picture from the column and a picture is worth a 1,000 words. Me me me me.
Amazing TJ how he has me fooled and same with the USA coaches this summer who talked about the need for him to shoot more. For those wondering why a player might pick another school, some comments here could help explain it. I have no idea where he’ll go but seems strange you praise Pope’s playing style but then question why he would want a me-first player. Myself, I think you have to trust that a coach knows what kind of player he wants and that’s why he recruits that player.
Amen Larry. I think Pope knows a little more about who and what he wants than any of us sitting at home reading about all of this stuff.
Larry I think he’s being chased because of his ranking. The same thing Cal did. It didn’t matter if the kid is 7foot a 150 pounds if he’s a five star let’s go for it. That’s what messes a teams chemistry up. I’ve seen him play in person and I wasn’t impressed at all. He actually got fouled by a player on the other team and the kid tried to help him up like players usually do. He pushed the kids hand away like I don’t need you to get up and the kid was just making a kind gesture. I don’t like punk shit like that. Some of us do some of us don’t care and everyone has an opinion. That’s what’s fun about all this. To me like I said from my observation he’s not fu***** with Mark Pope. They think he’s a goofball. I like his character he plays a nice guy role. He’s a great coach but he’s not a business savvy coach. He’s a hands on coach which actually teaches the players more. He would do better by looking elsewhere.
Jasper’s game needs a lot of work. Earlier this Summer he went through a circuit of games where he shot 38% from the field and 25% from 3. One game he went 0-11. The circuit kids have learned that he can’t go to his right, he can’t shoot, and he will force shots in the lane. His defense leaves much to be desired too. I think Pope could coach him up in a couple of years, but his PT would be limited as a freshman. Bama and Carolina are loosing key backcourt players and will need Johnson to be a starter and hope he can deliver. I think as a starter he will have a year similar to Wagner. The pressure there would be enormous and his game has too many deficiencies to overcome. He needs to be coached up by a guy like Pope who will limit his minutes, but give him the opportunity to grow. I think the kid could be a solid player in 3 years. Calipari would have been all too happy to start him if he were still our coach and would gladly make him a pet at Arkansas, but that would not be in Jasper’s best interest. What we have not heard from Jasper is that he wants to be a Wildcat above everything else. He has not said he wants to help Pope win championships. He has said that he is looking for the best fit for HIMSELF. I have nothing against Jasper and I am sure he is a great kid and he has the best of parents, but that sounds a lot like a me first player to me. I am sure that Pope sees the same tape we have seen. I am sure that Mark wants Jasper to be a Wildcat, but knows he will be a multi-year project. There is no reason to hate those who see what everyone else can see if they bother to look. Jasper needs help and there is nobody better to help him than Mark Pope.
You know so much more than everyone around this kid. You should be the lead writer for Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and every other sports outlet. Heck, I’m surprised you’re not quoted on every sports network everyday.
You bunch of grumpy old men need to get over yourselves before you have a stroke.
Exactly you’ve seen what I’ve seen. A ton of shots and most of them are just prayers
I’ve seen him miss 60-70% of his shots. He’s not even Uber athletic. Average at best. Way overrated. Wherever he goes he will transfer after his first year for lack of playing time. Especially at Alabama or North Carolina
Why does everyone get so butthurt over someone else’s opinion? We’re all Kentucky fans who want the best for our team but trashing each others opinions isn’t sitting/ or doing anything but bringing negativity to our program. I have been a UK fan for my whole life, threw the ups and the downs and I hate to lose a recruit just as much as you do but please dont trash a kid who hasn’t even commited yet or a commenter just because we didnt agree with them. I’m really excited about Pope. I believe he will bring back the Kentucky we all know and love and I truly believe that this years team will surprise A LOT of People!! Go BBN!!
Exactly. I thought that was the beauty of this freedom of expression and choice. The kid has to play 30+ minutes to score 10+ points and take a lot of shots doing so. He didn’t shoot as much for team usa because the other guys on the team were much better than him.
Can’t everybody shoot like Travis Perry.
Holbrook, you’re right, but this site has ALWAYS had a few that say if you don’t see things my way, you need to hit the highway. They are a lot like Trump. They attack the person with a differing opinion rather than present a case for their viewpoint. They go too far when they say that person is not a true fan of Kentucky, but that is what you hear here. Pope is doing a great job, he put together a very good team and coaching staff, and we will have a much better season than most of the talking heads say. I am excited about Kentucky basketball again but there will be some things that call for honest discussion…like the recruitment of Johnson. I hope he comes here because he is a hometown kid with family ties to UK, but his game needs a LOT of development. I can’t think of any coach better to help him than Pope.
I think they will surprise several hundred people. Speaking of Wagner he had injuries that I think kept him from progressing . All I can say is I hope he comes to UK and thrives. Kentucky boy needs to go to UK .
Sure I’ll reply , UK is screwed we watched a Hall of Fame coach go for Mark Pope A. That’s a brain fart 4 final 4s a championship 8 elite 8s upteen sweet 16s send him to the pigs and bring on the great white hope in Pope? Mitch has lost his ever lasting mind
Kentucky basketball is in good hands.
What has your hall of fame coach done in the last 9 years? I’ll hang up & listen to your response!
The kids got us those final fours, elite eights, and one championship. NOT CAL. If you understand basketball then you know that he can’t coach. His best coaching job was at UMASS. Your dang right that we like having an up and coming coach that just beat Gonzaga who Cal lost to. Kansas who Cal just lost to and beat Baylor too. If you were to be honest he didn’t have anywhere near the talent that Cal did at a school like BYU and did more with it. Let’s see what he can do with some real talent…
DJ Wagner had one of the best drives to the left, and the left handed lay up. Only problem was he could only hit it one out of 15 times.
It’s always Cool To Stay Blue…