Announcement: The recruitment of Kentucky top target ends as he makes commitment to join Mark Pope’s Wildcats

Mark Pope has assembled a roster of contemporary college players.

It may be the end of one of Kentucky’s biggest recruiting classes in the early years of Mark Pope’s tenure.

Local five-star talent Jasper Johnson is very close to making a choice, which may come after Peach Jam. The Nike EYBL Circuit Championship event, Peach Jam, is scheduled for the following week.

As per Joe Tipton, national writer at on3.com, “a decision is expected after Peach Jam, and a commitment is nearing.”

The three primary programs that Johnson has worked with recently are Kentucky, Alabama, and North Carolina. Though probably behind the three institutions mentioned above, Illinois, Arkansas, and other states are also involved.

Since taking over three months ago, Mark Pope has made Johnson a top priority objective. When he went to Argentina earlier this month to watch Johnson play in the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, he demonstrated that.

Johnson transferred to the nationally renowned program Link Academy (Mo.) last year from Woodford County (Ky.).

According to 247Sports, Johnson is the No. 2 combo guard and ranked No. 10 in the class of 2025. The 6-foot-5 player is a versatile scorer who can operate both on and off the ball. He can play above the rim on both ends of the court and thrive in transition or attacking the hoop thanks to his athleticism.

“As a southpaw scoring guard, Jasper Johnson can produce extremely difficult shot-making bursts when he’s hot,” noted Adam Finkelstein, Director of Scouting at 247Sports. In addition to his ability to make jumpers and step-backs from the perimeter, he possesses a very soft natural touch and is highly skilled in the lane, possessing a deep bag of runners, floaters, and other types of finishes. Johnson has a documented wingspan of +5, which makes him physically slender.

Pope has made it a priority to key in-state kids coming to Lexington. While Johnson isn’t in the state now, he’s very much a local prospect. It’ll be interesting to see if Pope can reel him in, or if he’ll lose him to an SEC rival or another blue blood program.