Jasper Johnson smiled as he talked about his freshmen teammates Thursday. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Sometimes we tend to forget that even as talented as University of Kentucky basketball players are and how popular they are with Big Blue fans that they are still just kids at heart, especially when they are freshmen.
Jasper Johnson readily admits he wants to play in the NBA and would like to be a one-and-done player if possible. Malachi Moreno was a McDonald’s All-American and a mobile 7-footer. Braydon Hawthorne was recently compared to former UK and NBA great Tayshaun Prince, an Olympic gold medal winner, by Kentucky coach Mark Pope.
All three freshmen held media sessions Thursday and most of the 30 minutes was a routine question-and-answer time with all three players. However, when Moreno and Hawthorne finished with media members and Johnson was still being interviewed, the fun started.
Johnson and Moreno, both Kentucky natives, are roommates in Wildcat Coal Lodge. Hawthorne also lives there as every player on Pope’s team does except for Collin Chandler, who is married.
Moreno had a “hard-hitting” question he asked Johnson.
“What’s it like rooming with Malachi at the Lodge?” Moreno asked.
Johnson didn’t miss a beat and responded immediately with a big smile on his face.
“Hasn’t been too good, honestly,” Johnson said Thursday. “Last night, I’m peacefully sleeping in my room. Malachi lets the door open for a couple of teammates. They shoot me with water guns at like 11:30 at night. It’s cool though. I’m gonna get some back for sure, but Malachi is just a weird roommate. I come in there, he’s always eating. Constantly, always.”
Well done Jasper Johnson, who could not have been expecting that question.
Hawthorne quickly followed Johnson’s answer to Moreno with his own question
“I’ve got a question for you. My name is Braydon Hawthorne. Who runs the third floor at the Lodge?” Hawthorne asked.
Again, Johnson had a quick, playful answer.
“Who runs the third floor? Honestly, I’ve never been to the third floor of the Lodge, so I’m not gonna say anybody runs the third floor. But you said Braydon Hawthorne, right? You were one of the guys who had involvement with the water situation, so I got a problem with you as well. But we’ll handle that,” Johnson said.
That kind of playful fun is great for team chemistry/bonding but also reminds you the players who will have enormous pressure on them this season really are still kids at heart.
