A name that is very familiar to the BBN is 5-star combo guard Jasper Johnson. A Kentucky native and a UK legacy recruit, Mark Pope and his staff are fighting to ultimately have Johnson playing his college basketball for the Cats.
It is quite the fight, however. Recent rumblings have Alabama as the favorite with North Carolina close behind, leaving the Cats in the third position. Now, we can add more schools to the list.
Prior to making his decision, Johnson stated that he would like to visit USC, Arkansas, and Baylor. This was discussed in a recent interview with Joe Tipton of On3.
at response to a question from Tipton regarding Kentucky, Johnson offered some insight into his opinions regarding the Mark Pope coaching staff at Lexington.
“I like them (the staff). I got to meet them last month, I’m pretty sure. Got to meet them and talk to them for a few minutes. Got to watch them practice and heard (Pope’s) message,” Johnson said. “Just got to see them play, so just building that relationship. I know it’s his first year at Kentucky, but I feel like he will do a good job with the team he has this year.”
At one point, it seemed like the Cats were the favorite to land Johnson’s services, but it appears this could be a wait-and-see approach to how the team does in Pope’s first season.
The good news for the fanbase is a commitment doesn’t seem to be as imminent as once thought. The longer this drags out, the better the Cats’ chances are likely to get.
