Mark Pope Reaches Out to Show Interest in Jasper Johnson

Jasper Johnson and his parents on a visit to UK when John Calipari was the coach. (UK Athletics Photo)

Kentucky coach Mark Pope has a lot of work to do to fill out his 2024-25 roster but he’s already looking ahead.

That’s why the new UK coach reached out to Dennis Johnson, father of 6-4 combo guard Jasper Johnson, on Wednesday. Jasper Johnson is a top 15 player nationally with almost 25 high level Division I offers, including one from former UK coach John Calipari.

Recently hired UK assistant coach Jason Hart had called Dennis Johnson on Tuesday.

Hart was very familiar with Jasper Johnson before arriving at UK. He told Dennis he was ready to recruit Jasper for the NBA G-League where he had coached and had been following Jasper’s progress.

Pope called and texted on Wednesday to express his interest in Jasper Johnson and to ask forgiveness for not calling sooner.

“I spent about 25 minutes on the phone with him and he told me how much he loved Jasper and I told him I understood how busy he was constructing a roster,” Dennis Johnson said. “He said if he had got one he had got 100 calls about recruiting Jasper. He loves his games and wants to meet with him.”

Jasper Johnson has finished his junior season with Link Academy after transferring from Woodford County and now is starting AAU play this weekend in Memphis. He should be back in Kentucky May 6th and the Johnsons plan to meet with Pope as a family then for a “long conversation.”

Pope told Dennis Johnson he understands how a “kid from Kentucky” just feels different about playing for the Cats.

Pope also appreciated that Dennis Johnson, a former all-SEC lineman at UK and current Woodford County football coach, told him he sent Jasper to play for Link, one of the nation’s top prep schools, so he could get his “ass kicked” after leading Woodford to the state tournament his sophomore season. Pope liked that attitude and told Dennis he likes players who have faced hardships.

“Pope is a good dude. He’s energetic just like he was at his press conference (in Rupp Arena). He wants guys to play for the name on the front of the jersey and not the name on the back,” Dennis Johnson said.

Hart also impressed Dennis Johnson with his approach. He had not talked personally to Jasper when he was coaching in the G League.

“He said he liked to talk to the parents first before he talked to a player. He told me he had seen Jasper play but had never gone up to him because he wanted to talk to the parents first,” Dennis Johnson said. “As a coach, I appreciate that attitude and have great respect for that. It can get so confusing with coaches and what parents know. We went to one school to see a game and Jasper got offered and we did not even know. Nobody told us.”

The Johnsons do know how interested Baylor — among others — is in Jasper. Baylor coach Scott Drew has been actively pursuing the talented guard and Baylor reportedly will hire Link coach Bill Armstrong to replace associate coach Alvin Brooks who left to join Pope’s staff at Kentucky.

“Jasper has a really good relationship with him (Armstrong). That might give Baylor a little more in with him,” Dennis said. “He did Bible study with them every week. Bill is the reason Jasper went to Link. He’s a great dude and that could play a part in Jasper’s recruitment. Baylor was already flying up to talk to him (at Link) and doing Zooms early on.

“(Baylor) Coach (Scott) Drew was the first one to tell him he would take him in 2024 but encouraged him to wait until 2025. He (Drew) is a good person and a lot like Pope. He’s really energetic and full of life.”

Jasper Johnson will visit Baylor this summer and also take an official visit to Alabama.