Shooting guard Jasper Johnson is probably the player with the most one-and-done potential among the top players the Kentucky Wildcats have coming in the 2025 class. Despite intense recruiting from Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Kentucky native was finally choose to play for Mark Pope and remain at home.
Johnson’s exclusion from the McDonald’s All-American list, which he undoubtedly deserved, has angered many Kentucky supporters.
Johnson has had a tremendous season for his team, RWE, and is currently playing for Overtime Elite in Atlanta. Johnson is shooting 49.7% from the field and 36.3% from outside the arc, averaging 20.3 points, 5.8 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.8 steals a game. Johnson will shoot a lot in Rupp Arena since he is shooting that % from three on six shots per game.
Even though Johnson is the 18th-best player in the class according to the aggregate rankings, this is still too low. The 6’4 guard will be successful in Lexington because he is a difficult shot maker and taker.
Being a three-level scorer, Johnson will benefit from his ability to create his own shots at the collegiate level.
The Kentucky native will probably be Pope’s first one-and-done player and will be among the top freshman in college basketball. The McDonald’s All-American Game committee will be sorry they didn’t include Johnson.
