Kentucky freshman Jasper Johnson enters transfer portal after 1 season

Jasper Johnson, a highly touted in-state recruit, is entering the transfer portal after just one season at Kentucky, marking another offseason departure for the Wildcats after Jaland Lowe entered the portal a few days ago.

Johnson’s journey to Lexington was closely followed. The Kentucky native began his high school career at Woodford County before playing at Link Academy in Missouri and Overtime Elite in Atlanta. With deep ties to the state, including a father who played football at Kentucky, Johnson’s commitment was seen as a major win for Mark Pope and his staff.

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He embraced his commitment, where he would often rep his own brand “KY TIL I DIE,” with many expectations that he would become a key piece for the program. However, during his freshman season, it never fully worked out.

Johnson averaged 4.9 points, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 rebounds in just 12 minutes per game across 35 appearances. While flashes of potential were there, he struggled to find a consistent rhythm, particularly adjusting from Overtime Elite’s offensive-heavy style to the physical demands of college basketball.

His final appearance showed his struggles in the college game. Johnson played just six minutes in Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa State, finishing with a -9 plus/minus.

Despite the challenges, Johnson remained appreciative of the opportunity.

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“It was a blessing, I mean, being from Lexington, Kentucky, dreaming to always play for Kentucky,” Jasper Johnson said postgame on Sunday. “My dream came true with that, and I felt like we had a pretty good season, a lot of ups and downs to it, but it is a part of life, so I can’t really say too much about it, but it was a great thing and a blessing.”

Now, both Johnson and Kentucky move forward in search of a better fit.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kentucky-freshman-jasper-johnson-enters-222714623.html

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Publish date : 2026-04-03 22:27:00

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