Latest news with #JasperJohnson
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
More new Wildcats move in, embrace mission for banner No. 9
Five more Kentucky Wildcats officially arrived in Lexington on Thursday: Freshmen Malachi Moreno, sophomore transfer Kam Williams, freshman Jasper Johnson, freshman Braydon Hawthorne, and junior transfer Reece Potter. They join early arrivals Jaland Lowe, Denzel Aberdeen, and Jayden Quaintance as Mark Pope's new-look roster continues to take shape. Kentucky men's basketball posted a video on Twitter of Moreno and Potter introducing themselves before move-in— both making it clear they understand the assignment: bring home banner No. 9. Advertisement Moreno, a 7-foot center from Georgetown, recently led Great Crossing to a state title. The McDonald's All-American and USA Basketball U19 camp invitee will wear No. 24 for the Wildcats. He averaged 21.5 points, 14.9 rebounds, and shot 72% from the field as a senior. Potter, 7-foot-1, returns to his hometown after two seasons at Miami (OH). A former Lexington Catholic standout, he appeared in 56 games for the RedHawks, averaging 6.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and shooting 36.7 percent from three as a sophomore. Hawthorne had a full-circle moment where UK posted on Twitter: A 'how it started vs. how it's going' image showing him as a young boy sitting next to legendary coach Joe B. Hall's statue, and now, doing it again before move-in. In the video, Hawthorne said he's ready to get to work. Alongside the other new Wildcats, two more arrived this afternoon and evening as Kam Williams and Jasper Johnson shared their goals for this upcoming season. Advertisement Williams, the Tulane transfer, was the first transfer commit of this portal class as he chose the Cats right in the thick of the NCAA Tournament. A player with legit NBA prospects going forward, watching his growth this year should be fun. Johnson is the most familiar name to the BBN, as the top-40 prospect has been on the fanbase's radar for quite some time. Now, it is official. We will finally get to see Johnson wear the blue and white. With key pieces now in place, Coach Pope's message is clear, and his players are ready to answer the call. More from
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kentucky recruit makes unique decision with bold NIL power move
In today's NIL-driven era of college basketball, talent alone doesn't separate the stars from the superstars—business savvy does. Jasper Johnson just proved he has both. On Friday night, the Kentucky Wildcats commit and rising Overtime Elite standout officially signed with CAA Sports, a move that immediately shifts the landscape of his budding career. The 6-foot-4 guard from Lexington, Kentucky, is now backed by the same agency that represents basketball giants like Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Advertisement It's a headline-worthy leap for a player who hasn't even stepped on the hardwood in a Kentucky jersey yet. Johnson, currently ranked No. 24 in the 2024 class by 247Sports, is known for his explosive scoring ability, elite shot-making, and poise well beyond his years. But his decision to align with CAA speaks to a deeper understanding of the modern athlete's toolkit—one that includes branding, partnerships, and long-term planning. Kentucky Wildcats head basketball coach Mark Pope.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images CAA's client list reads like a sports and entertainment Hall of Fame. From NFL stars Josh Allen and Saquon Barkley to MLB's Shohei Ohtani and Hollywood icons like Zendaya and Tom Hanks, the agency has built a reputation for amplifying elite talent. Johnson now joins that ecosystem, which will shape how his personal brand is built—and monetized. Advertisement Until now, Johnson had been represented by Nate Conley of Court XIV, an agency with deep ties to Kentucky basketball. Conley has managed past Wildcats like Oscar Tshiebwe and Rob Dillingham, along with 2026 five-star target Anthony Thompson. The move to CAA signals Johnson's readiness to level up his market presence and NIL strategy on a national scale. Kentucky fans have long expected Johnson to shine under the Rupp Arena lights. Now, with CAA in his corner, he's also poised to become a top-tier face in the NIL world. The takeaway? Johnson isn't just preparing to be a star player—he's setting up to be a star brand. NIL isn't just about endorsements anymore—it's about empire-building. And Jasper Johnson just picked the right team to build his. Related: Dan Lanning sends blunt message to Oregon recruits regarding NIL Related: NBA legend has words for NCAA regarding NIL
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kentucky basketball's starting lineup prediction for next season from ESPN
Kentucky basketball's starting lineup prediction for next season from ESPN For most Kentucky Wildcats basketball fans, the 2025-26 season can't get here fast enough. After making it to the Sweet 16 in his first year, expectations are high for Mark Pope and a new squad that is loaded with talent. Pope has assembled a roster that many consider to be one of the nation's best heading into the season. Jeff Borzello, an analyst for ESPN, considers them a top ten team right now, listing them at number ten in a recent top 25 article. He specifically mentioned the backcourt, saying, "Kentucky is absolutely loaded on the perimeter next season, with the arrivals of transfers Jaland Lowe (Pitt), Kam Williams (Tulane) and Denzel Aberdeen (Florida) as well as five-star prospect Jasper Johnson to go with the potential return of leading scorer Otega Oweh and reserve Collin Chandler." Borzell also predicted the starting lineup for the Cats. He has transfer Jaland Lowe and Freshman Jasper Johnson as the guards, Otega Oweh on the wing, and Mouhamed Dioubate and Jaydan Quaintance as the starters inside. Obviously, that's dependent on Quaintance being 100% after a knee injury in February. This is an early prediction, and one of several different possible lineups. It's fun to look ahead, but we'll have a much clearer picture later in the summer.
USA Today
28-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
One Kentucky recruit will play in the McDonald's All-American game
The 2025 McDonald's All-American game is set to take place on April 1st in Brooklyn, New York. It will feature some of the best players from the class of 2025, including one Kentucky basketball commit, and several former targets. Jasper Johnson is currently the Wildcats' highest ranked recruit, but he didn't make the list. Instead, center Malachi Moreno will be Kentucky's lone representative at the game. He will play for the East squad at the game. Moreno is ranked as the number 27 overall prospect in the 2025 class by 247sports. He's their number three center, and rated five stars. He is also the top player from the state of Kentucky, and was Mark Pope's first commitment. Other Kentucky targets that will play in the game include Braylon Mullens, Nate Ament, Caleb Wilson, and Chris Cenac among others. It would have been nice to see Johnson as well, but fans will have to settle for watching Moreno as he plays with and against the nation's best.
