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The countdown to Jasper Johnson making his college choice public is almost over.
The 6-5 guard, a consensus top 15 player in the 2025 recruiting class, will announce his decision Thursday at Woodford County High School in Versailles. The ceremony will start at 2:15 p.m. and lead to Johnson choosing either Kentucky, North Carolina, Alabama, Louisville or Arkansas.
If you would like to attend the ceremony, you need to either contact the high school or Jasper’s father, Dennis, to be put on an admission list because space will be limited with Woodford students also attending the announcement ceremony.
If you cannot attend, the ceremony will be live on 247Sports and CBS Sports HQ.
Johnson played at Woodford County as a freshman and sophomore — he helped the Yellowjackets make the 2023 state tournament. He played his junior year at Link Academy in Missouri and this season will play for Overtime Elite in Atlanta.
Johnson had not told coaches as of Monday night what his final decision would be. North Carolina coach Hubert Davis continues to remind him that North Carolina was his dream school and few players get to make their dreams come true. Alabama coach Nate Oates was Johnson’s first Power 5 offer and seems to have almost unlimited NIL funding.
Kentucky coach Mark Pope has been relentless in his pursuit of Johnson since getting the UK job in mid-April. Pope’s magic worked with Great Crossing center Malachi Moreno who recently committed to UK and urged Johnson to do the same.
Johnson’s recruitment has been full of speculation. First it was that he would reclassify to the 2024 recruiting class, something the family continued to say would not happen and it did not. Next it was that Alabama and North Carolina were the clear 1-2 choices, something the family again insisted was not true. Supposedly NIL money was going to be the deciding factor and again the family said that would not be the case.
Now Johnson and his family are ready for him to let everyone know Thursday afternoon where he’ll be playing his college basketball.
14 Responses
I don’t care what his shooting % was back in the summer. This kid can play!
He glides up and down the floor. He’s like a deer or antelope with sneakers on.
Jasper closed the door to the public and won’t allow anyone but family and close friends inside …. I don’t see that as a Good sign for Coach Pope and Kentucky
They are just asking you to call ahead to get on a list so they don’t have more than can get it since a lot of Woodford County students will be there because Jasper wanted them included
Now officially not open to the public. All the highschool kids alone would pretty much fill that gym.
How does that say ANYTHING about UK? Lmao yall people are praying we don’t secure these top 25 guys or having Cal wasn’t the only reason we are an amazing place to play. Thought UK would fall after he left yet that hasn’t and won’t happen. Now y’all mad. Haha bet money he chose UK.
Eric Reibe just cancelled his Kentucky visit. Maybe Pope can talk him into coming to Midnight Madness.
He also cancelled a visit to North Carolina the word is he’s headed to Creighton.
Alabama hosted a Top 30 Combo Guard and a Wing player on Official Visits this past weekend. I hope that means they know they aren’t getting Jasper.
Yes! And Reibe isn’t coming because we have the Tower Moreno.
I hope you choose Kentucky.But good luck were ever you go
Let there be no doubt.. He is UK bound..
I am glad that Pope got this kid signed. He will help him improve his game immensely! We still need help on the frontline as Williams, Carr, Almonor, and possibly Garrison will be gone to the NBA next year. Moreno can’t guard all of them. Pope is working on this.
We haven’t even played this season. What are you talking about Moreno guarding everybody!?
Pope is starting 2025 recruiting with 2 big wins. More to come.