No. 4 PG Johnson staying at home with UK promise

• Jeff Borzello Close Jeff Borzello ESPN Personnel Author Basketball recruiting insider. Signed up with ESPN in 2014. Graduate of University of Delaware.Paul Biancardi Close Paul Biancardi Basketball Recruiting National Recruiting Director for ESPN.com 18 years of training experience at Department I

  level Former Horizon League coach of the year at Wright State Sep 5, 2024, 02:43 PM ET

• New Kentucky coach Mark Pope landed a statement win on the
• recruiting trail Thursday as five-star guard Jasper Johnson revealed his

commitment to the Wildcats

, who vanquished North Carolina and Alabama for his pledge.Arkansas and Louisville were also in Johnson’s last five, but it was a three-way fight between Kentucky, North Carolina and Alabama over the past couple of months. Coming out of the July duration, Alabama was

perceived to be the preferred, however Pope and the Wildcats surged over the last couple of weeks to become Johnson’s destination.While Johnson went to Link Academy(Missouri)last season and checked in July with Overtime Elite, he is a Lexington local who is heading home for college.”Being from Lexington and playing for the home school, my city and state implied something to me,”he informed ESPN.”Rupp Arena is a magical location.”Editor’s Picks Pope and his assistants made their final pitch earlier today. “I got near to the personnel. They were extremely consistent in the recruiting process. They took the time to be familiar with me,”Johnson stated.”The entire staff came to my apartment at midnight on the opening night coaches were allowed

out. That was cool.”A 6-foot-4 guard, Johnson is ranked No.

13 in the ESPN 100. He averaged 14.8 points per game for the Team Thad program on the Nike EYBL circuit during the spring before setting up 19.8 points in 5 games at the Nike Peach Jam in July. Johnson likewise helped lead the U.S.A. Basketball under-18 group to the gold medal at the FIBA AmeriCup in June, balancing 10.0 points per game and shooting 42.3 %from 3-point range.Johnson is one of the very best pure scorers in the country, blending shotmaking, quick drives to the basket and imaginative surfaces. His wingspan is close to 6-9, and he has actually shown the capability to safeguard the ball. His strength is spacing the flooring with his 3-point shot. Johnson forces defenders to close out with the state of mind to drive, and as soon as in the lane, he has a reputable floater and makes his layups. His passing vision and natural game instincts allow him to play either protect position.Pope has now landed two essential in-state employees to start his 2025 class, with Johnson following top-50 center Malachi Moreno, who committed in August. Johnson is the second-highest-ranked prospect in the 2025 class to dedicate at this point, with top-10 guard Darius Acuff (Arkansas )the only committed prospect ranked higher.Other targets on Pope’s list for 2025 consist of Nate Ament(No. 4 in the ESPN 100), Caleb Wilson(No. 5), Chris Cenac Jr.(No. 7), Mikel Brown Jr.(No. 12 ), Tounde Yessoufou( No. 18)and Braylon Mullins (No. 24).