"I really couldn’t find a difference": Kentucky-commit Jasper Johnson had had to make a tough month-long decision

Having a home in Kentucky, Jasper Johnson's decision to commit to Mark Pope came naturally. The five-star shooting guard also spearheaded a show while pretending to order pizzas and revealing a #30 Wildcats jersey from the box.

However, his recent statements with Kentucky Sports Radio radiate otherwise. Johnson shared that the standards of his preferred program countered each other, leaving him more confused for a month.

“I know each program has something to offer that maybe another one doesn’t," he said. "Just cutting down my list, it was hard. I’d say for about a month straight I really couldn’t find a (difference in) one of the three programs. Just sitting down, praying to God, talking to my family about it, I feel like Kentucky was the best fit for me.”

The programs Jasper Johnson was considering were Alabama Crimson Tide, Kentucky and North Carolina Tar Heels. All programs were heavily involved in his recruitment while Johnson was motivated through the personal narratives he had with their rosters.

Nate Oats’ Alabama staff was the first program to extend him a Division I offer. Moreover, he had grown up cheering for the Tar Heels, which would have allowed him to have a full-circle moment.

The home effect helped Kentucky in landing Jasper Johnson

Jasper Johnson’s Kentucky recruitment began when John Calipari led the Wildcats last season. With that, when the shooting guard named Arkansas as his top-5 program on Jul. 24, there was a possibility that the coaching change could factor significantly in his decision.

However, he claimed that his final decision came through a simple inclination to stay in Kentucky and represent the Wildcats.

“I was very in between these other schools but I really feel like my heart wanted to be at Kentucky. That’s what really sold me,” he said.

Moreover, Johnson was strongly considering being in Kentucky since the beginning. He visited the Wildcats six times since October 2022 (five unofficial, one official). His second most visited program was the Tar Heels (two).

Johnson is the second Wildcat in his family. His father, Dennis Johnson, was a star defensive lineman for Kentucky from 2000-2002.