Jasper Johnson Shows Glimpses of Kentucky’s Future at the Point
When Jasper Johnson was a kid, his favorite Christmas gift was a four-wheeler. It didn’t last long-he crashed it on his first ride, spooking his dad enough to cut the joyride short.
These days, Johnson is driving something with a little more horsepower: Kentucky’s offense. And while it’s still early, he’s starting to look like he might keep this ride on the road for a while.
With starting point guard Jaland Lowe sidelined Tuesday to protect a lingering shoulder injury, Johnson stepped into the lead guard role and showed why many believe he could be a pivotal piece for the Wildcats as the season unfolds. Kentucky handled Bellarmine 99-85 in a pre-Christmas matinee at Rupp Arena, and Johnson’s performance was one of the most encouraging takeaways from the win.
The freshman guard logged 22 minutes, scoring 11 points and dishing out seven assists while navigating Bellarmine’s shifting zone defenses. For a player still adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game, it was a poised, productive outing.
“I thought Jasper was really good,” head coach Mark Pope said postgame. “I had a lot of confidence in him today on the offensive end.”
That confidence wasn’t misplaced. Johnson didn’t just manage the game-he helped drive it.
With Lowe unavailable, Kentucky needed someone to create off the dribble, initiate offense, and keep the tempo up. Johnson did all that, and more.
He had help, of course. Tulane transfer Kam Williams caught fire from deep, knocking down 8 of 10 threes on his way to a career-high 26 points.
Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen added 14 points, hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. And veteran guard Otega Oweh nearly posted a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, eight rebounds, and 10 assists.
Still, it was Johnson’s ability to function as a true point guard that might have the biggest long-term implications for Kentucky (now 9-4). The Wildcats have been searching for a reliable secondary ball handler behind Lowe-someone who can break down a defense, get downhill, and keep the offense humming when Lowe needs a breather or is banged up, like he was Tuesday.
Johnson may be that guy. The tools are there.
At 6-foot-5 with a smooth handle and natural feel for the game, he has the kind of upside that gets coaches excited. But like most freshmen, he’s still learning what it takes to thrive at this level.
Through 13 games, Johnson is averaging 7.3 points and 2.5 assists while shooting just over 40% from the field. Against top-tier opponents, those numbers dip-he’s averaging 3.3 points on 7-of-27 shooting in Kentucky’s six toughest matchups. That drop-off speaks to the adjustment period he’s going through, especially when it comes to physicality.
“I’ve been trying to get in the weight room a lot more with Coach Randy (Towner), building up my frame,” Johnson said. “I know this is not the last time that my body is going to be something that, you know, maybe puts me at a disadvantage.”
Right now, he’s listed at 180 pounds. In a league where guards are built like linebackers and switch-heavy defenses punish any weakness, that’s a challenge. But Johnson’s aware of it, and he’s putting in the work.
The other challenge? Learning how to contribute in a role that doesn’t always come with starter minutes.
Johnson was a star in high school, used to playing big minutes and being the focal point. At Kentucky, he’s had to learn how to stay ready off the bench and make the most of limited opportunities.
“The hardest part for me is, sometimes, in games where I really don’t play that much, always trying to stay ready,” he said. “Always trying to stay positive and still working even when I’m not getting minutes.
Always gotta be a benefit to the team, not have bad energy. Be a good teammate.
It is something that I’ve really been working on.”
That mentality is paying off. Johnson came to Lexington with a reputation as a scorer, but his teammates are seeing more.
“People look at him and think he’s a score-first type of guard,” Kam Williams said. “But he’s showing each and every game that he’s more than a scorer.”
Johnson agrees. “I think of myself as a point guard, a combo guard.
I can play one or two, on or off the ball. Whatever my coach needs from me, I feel like I can go out there and do it.”
That versatility could be critical for Kentucky down the stretch. If Johnson can continue to develop as a secondary creator and take pressure off Lowe, the Wildcats’ backcourt becomes a lot more dangerous-and a lot more flexible.
Next up for Kentucky is a road trip to Alabama on January 3, a matchup that carries a little extra meaning for Johnson. The Crimson Tide were one of his final three schools during his recruitment, along with North Carolina and Kentucky.
“I play every game special, but that one is special for sure,” he said. “They were in my top three. Coach (Nate) Oats, I had a good relationship, but having to be [at Kentucky] was a better move for me.”
As for what’s on his Christmas list this year?
“I just want to see my family, spend time with them like the old days,” Johnson said. “Christmas, with that nostalgic feeling, is a gift alone.”
If Johnson keeps trending upward, Kentucky fans might feel the same way come March. Because if he becomes the steady hand behind Lowe, the Wildcats won’t just have a backup point guard-they’ll have a backcourt rotation that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the SEC.