Just in: Kentucky Gains Ground in Race for Top Five-Star Guard

The adage “Recruiting is fluid” is vividly illustrated by the situation surrounding five-star guard Jasper Johnson.

 

The Kentucky native, currently ranked 11th in the 2025 class by On3’s composite rankings, was initially thought to be leaning towards Alabama. However, recent developments suggest that Kentucky may now be the front-runner for his commitment.

Given that Johnson’s father played football for the Wildcats, it seemed almost certain that Johnson would eventually choose Kentucky. Both Alabama and Kentucky offer offensive systems that complement Johnson’s shooting prowess, but Mark Pope’s strong late push has significantly shifted the momentum.

According to On3’s recruiting prediction machine, Kentucky’s chances of securing Johnson have risen to 84.9%, up from 75% the previous week. Alabama trails far behind with just a 2.9% chance. Although Johnson has not yet announced an official commitment date, it is expected to happen this week, with a decision likely imminent.

If Kentucky manages to add Johnson to a class that already includes the top-ranked center, Malachi Moreno, Coach Mark Pope will demonstrate his ability to attract elite talent to Kentucky. In the Wildcats’ system, Johnson could emerge as a standout player and a potential lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Fans are hopeful that Coach Pope will successfully finalize Johnson’s recruitment and secure this top 2025 guard from his home state.