Jasper Johnson (UK Athletics Photo)
Jasper Johnson totally understands how good his future University of Kentucky teammates are going to be.
“I know we have a lot of great talent on our team and on our roster,” said Johnson on WLAP Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “I feel like we have one of the best rosters in the country one through 13.”
Coach Mark Pope certainly has been lavish in his praise of Johnson, a 6-foot-4 guard who played with Overtime Elite last season is a top 30 recruit. The UK coach said his expectation was that Johnson would be a “superstar” at Kentucky and referred to him as the “most dangerous shooter” in high school basketball last season.
Does that put added pressure on the native Kentuckian before he’s arrived on campus?
“It means a lot that my coach can believe in me and allow me to be able to be ready for that position in that role that he’s given me,” Johnson said. “I know it’s a lot of work that’s going to have to be put into that but I’m confident in myself and I feel like I can do anything my coach wants me to do.”
Johnson said he wasn’t surprised that Pope was so strong in his praise of him.
“He’s been telling me that he sees that in my game since they wanted to meet (after Pope got the UK job). He’s been to a lot of my games just watching them and just making sure we build that bond and connection that we have,” Johnson said.
Johnson is finally taking some time off during a short family vacation this week but had been in the gym daily since his Overtime Elite season ended.
“Just trying to get better, get stronger and faster and work on my shooting, my foot speed and just doing whatever I can to separate myself from when I was in high school to that first day in college,” Johnson said.
The Kentucky freshman said when he’s not in the gym or lifting weights, he’s often inside sleeping or playing video games.
He says his father, Dennis, a former UK and NFL defensive lineman, is “always working out” all times of the day and sometimes will ask him at 10 p.m. if he would like to work out.
“That’s just how my dad is but I am definitely resting. I do go out to see my friends or visit my family. I go to see my grandmother at her house (in Harrodsburg). She loves to make me breakfast and stuff,” Johnson said.
3 Responses
Jasper Johnson is a bad bad man lexingtons own Billy The Kid
Has anyone heard if Owen is coming back? Tomorrow is the deadline.
I am at the point where I still hope he does but feel his holding out to the last minute smacks much more of self than team and that not a good look. If he should decide to stay in am ok with that also, and I also hope he doesn’t feel he will be the savior of the team if comes back.