Jasper Johnson pulled his father's UK basketball jersey out of a pizza box with his picture on it to announce his commitment to UK. (Keith Taylor/Kentucky Today)
Many assumed once Jasper Johnson decided to return to Woodford County High School to make his college commitment ceremony that he was going to Kentucky.
It turned out Thursday that he did commit to UK over Alabama, North Carolina, Louisville and Arkansas but the 6-5 shooting guard, a consensus top 15 player nationally in the 2025 recruiting class. However, he didn’t choose to make his decision in Versailles because he was UK bound.
“It was very important for him to come home where it all started for him and his family,” Nate Conley, Johnson’s agent, said.
Woodford superintendent Danny Adkins said it was “awesome to have one of our own come home” to make his decision. He played at Woodford for two years and helped the Yellowjackets reach the 2023 state tournament semifinals before playing last season at Link Academy in Missouri. He’ll play his senior season at Overtime Elite in Atlanta.
“He walked these halls and wanted to share this decision with you,” Adkins told Woodford students who filled the gymnasium for the ceremony. “Once a Yellowjacket, always a Yellowjacket. We are so excited to see Jasper write his chapter of the Johnson legacy.”
Jasper’s late grandfather, Alvis, was a legendary football and track coach at Harrodsburg High School, UK athletics administrator and Kentucky High School Athletic Association long-time board member/contributor. His uncle, Derrick, was a sports star at Harrodsburg and played football at Kentucky.
Jasper’s father, Dennis, was the national defensive player of the year as a senior at Harrodsburg before picking UK over Notre Dame and Florida. He became an all-SEC defensive end and played in the NFL.
Jasper developed into one of the nation’s best players but never seemed like a “priority” for former UK coach John Calipari even though he had a UK scholarship offer. Once Mark Pope got the Kentucky job, Johnson became a priority.
However, speculation spread that Alabama and/or North Carolina was leading for Jasper because of long-term relationships. Next it was speculation that NIL money put UK in third place for Johnson.
The Johnson family continued to insist it would be about the best fit for Jasper, not NIL money, and kept repeating that there was no leader.
Credit Pope for never believing any of the speculation about where UK stood. Pope watched Johnson play on the Nike EYBL circuit and at Overtime Elite. He went to Argentina to watch Johnson help Team USA win a gold medal.
“He took a lot of time, and one thing you can’t get back is time,” Johnson said about Pope. “I know he had a short period but I feel like he made me a priority with as much time that he was given. He would come and see me, call me, text me — not just him, the whole coaching staff.”
One of his first visits with Jasper had Pope telling him he felt he was “born to coach me” and Johnson never forgot that.
The left-handed Johnson can play either guard position and has a deep shooting range despite not making shots nearly as often as normal during EYBL play this summer.
The Big Blue spotlight should not overwhelm Jasper. His commitment ceremony had sponsorship from several sources. He already has an agent. He was invited to some of the nation’s most prestigious camps in the last five months. He’s played for Team USA.
He also has parents, Nyoka and Dennis, who are both former athletes who understand big-time athletics. His brother, Skyelar, has accompanied Jasper already on trips and will basically be his “business manager” the next few years which should be a huge help in today’s NIL world that Johnson is positioned perfectly to take advantage of.
Jasper did reveal his college choice by opening a pizza box that had his father’s former UK basketball jersey — Dennis planned to also play basketball for Tubby Smith at UK before football coach Hal Mumme eventually said no — packaged inside.
“It has all been a really good experience, a long journey,” Jasper said.
He believes he can “bring a lot” to Pope’s team but has one definite goal
“My main goal is to hang a banner. That is what I really want to do,” Jasper said.
18 Responses
I thought his announcement was wonderfully inventive.
This was more of a PR battle than a recruiting battle. I am glad Pope signed the kid to avoid all of the talking heads saying he was not up for the Kentucky job. Pope is the right man in Lexington. He will help Johnson improve his game if he is coachable, but I look for him to have a bench role in 2025.
Bench role like Reed Sheppard had?
Johnson is nowhere near the player that Reed is. He will have a bench role like Reed did, but will not get near as many minutes in his first year.
Barry, I hate to burst your bubble. But Johnson will prove you wrong about him.
I hope you are right 79, but his Summer game tape says otherwise.
What’s going on here?
We don’t need king CALcified and his RULING CLASS attitude to get good players that WANT to play for us.
Support for BBN starts with grassroots fans and goes up. Not the other way!
Just like politics.
Cal still lives rent free in a lot of people’s head. What is RULING CLASS attitude? I’ve been a UK fan for 60 years. Not a BBN fan.
Glad you’re still around Jimmy.
From not for
Barry, I respectfully disagree. This kid is a legit top10-15 player and is most definitely not a PR recruit. He is a lights out shooter out to 30 feet. His 3 pt. % was not overly impressive because he took too many of those 30 footers as well as some ill advised shots. That will not be the case at Kentucky. He still has some work to do, including putting on some weight. I know you have not been high on him and think he may not be coachable. I don’t think that will be the case at all. Time will tell. I am really high on Braylon Mullins and hope we can land him as well.
Also his shooting % was probably low because he’s tired. These kids play an unbelievable amount of games.
I hope I am wrong and you are right, but game tape doesn’t lie.
Need some sturdy bigs !!!
What about Cenac? Is he sturdy? I don’t know anything about him.
He is 6’10", 230. A good rim protector. He will need to beef up some more for SEC play, but he would be a good get for Pope.
Coach Pope proved his recruiting skills are as sharp as his coaching & developing players.
This statement by Jasper Johnson reminds me of the players Pitino recruited.
“My main goal is to hang a banner. That is what I really want to do,” Jasper said.
It is this type of player who will contribute to winning the National Championship! Another talented player with deep Kentucky roots!!!
I had not heard that from Johnson, but if true, it’s a good start.