How Did Jasper Johnson Get Left Off McDonald’s All-American Roster

NBA/college basketball analyst Krysten Peek felt UK signee Jasper Johnson deserved to be a McDonald's All-American. (Vicky Graff Photo)

Kentucky signee Jasper Johnson is ranked as the 17th best player in the 2025 recruiting class by ESPN, has been named to the USA team that will play in the Nike Hoop Summit and won a gold medal with USA Basketball last summer.

Yet when the McDonald’s All-American Game rosters were announced, Johnson was not one of the 24 players named. Kentucky signee Malachi Moreno of Great Crossing did make the team.

So how did Johnson get left off?

“My whole thing with the McDonald’s game or any of these all-star games is that highly ranked players who play the same position sometimes lead to guys being left off,” said NBA/college basketball analyst Krysten Peek. “The voting committee for the McDonald’s game has voters all over the country and some voters probably did not see Jasper as much and votes went to other players.

“This happens every year. But remember that McDonald’s All-American does not equate to an automatic NBA player. We see players who get snubbed every year become great college and NBA players. Jasper has played well. He won a gold medal, he’s on the Nike Hoop Summit team. It’s just more bias in the voting and not anything to do with his game.”

Peek did note it was a “very good and deep class” at the guard position but Johnson, who had 31 points in an exhibition game win over Huntington Prep at Woodford County Sunday, was still the “biggest surprise” to not make the team for  her.

To validate her point, Johnson is the only player on the USA Nike Hoop Summit team not to be named a McDonald’s All-American.