Five-star guard Jasper Johnson, ranked No. 12 in the 2025 class, has pledged to Kentucky, marking Mark Pope’s first five-star recruit since taking over as the Wildcats’ head coach.
Johnson chose Kentucky over North Carolina and Alabama. While his commitment might have seemed almost inevitable—given that his father, Dennis, was a Kentucky football standout and the family resides just 15 minutes from Rupp Arena—the situation became more complex after Hall of Fame coach John Calipari’s departure for Arkansas in the spring. With Calipari’s exit, Kentucky faced stiff competition from North Carolina, which Johnson had admired since attending a UNC-Duke game, and Alabama, which had just made its first Final Four appearance.
Despite these challenges, Johnson decided to stay close to home and is expected to vie for a starting position as a freshman. Mark Pope, who has yet to secure an NCAA Tournament victory, has proven that he can attract top talent to Kentucky. This move shows that the program’s strong recruiting pipeline remains intact, even though Pope is more known for his coaching acumen than for his recruiting prowess.
Johnson, a dynamic scorer who transferred to Overtime Elite in Atlanta for his senior year, is known for his ability to take over games. While he will need to refine his shot selection at the collegiate level, his time with OTE should help him physically prepare for the demands of Division I basketball. Johnson has expressed confidence in his ability to play point guard, though his scoring skills suggest he may be more effective as an off-ball guard.
As the second-highest-ranked player in the 2025 class, Johnson joins point guard Darius Acuff, who committed to Arkansas and Calipari earlier this summer.
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