Mark Story: Could Jasper Johnson become Kentucky basketball's 'X factor?'

Mark Story, Lexington Herald-Leader on Dec 23, 2025

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jasper Johnson says the best Christmas gift he’s ever gotten was an all-terrain vehicle when he was a child.

“My dad got me a four-wheeler, but I didn’t have it too long,” the Kentucky freshman guard said. “I ended up crashing it when he let me drive it, and he got scared.”

In the second half of the 2025-26 UK men’s basketball season, there’s a chance Johnson could present Wildcats coach Mark Pope with a gift of a very different sort.

Based solely on upside, Johnson would seem the best bet on the current Kentucky roster to become the secondary creator who can direct the Cats’ attack when lead guard Jaland Lowe is off the court.

Kentucky defeated Bellarmine 99-85 Tuesday before a Rupp Arena crowd of 19,706 on hand for a day-before-Christmas-Eve matinee.

With Lowe being held out of action Tuesday to protect his injured right shoulder, Johnson spent much of the 22 minutes in which he was on the court directing the Wildcats’ attack.

The former Woodford County High School star adeptly attacked an array of Bellarmine zone defenses and went for 11 points and seven assists.

“I thought Jasper was really good,” Pope said afterward. “I had a lot of confidence in him today on the offensive end.”

On a day of defensive regression for Kentucky — coach Doug Davenport’s plucky Knights (5-7, 0-0 ASUN) finished the game having made 26 of 50 field goals, a robust 52% — Johnson was part of a potent UK perimeter attack that allowed the Wildcats to overcome their porous defense.

Tulane transfer Kam Williams hit 8 of 10 3-pointers en route to a college career high of 26 points. Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen drained 4 of 7 treys and finished with 14 points. UK veteran stalwart Otega Oweh flirted with a triple-double before “settling” for 10 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.

Yet it was Johnson’s ability to succeed at the point in a game without Lowe that may have the most long-term consequence for Kentucky (9-4, 0-0 SEC).

UK is close to desperate for a guard other than Lowe who can get downhill and create.

On pure ability, Johnson is likely the player best-suited on the Kentucky roster to become that. As with the majority of freshmen, the question is how quickly Johnson can grow into that role.

Through 13 games, Johnson is averaging 7.3 points, 2.5 assists and making 40.8% of his field-goal attempts. In the six games UK has played vs. high-level opposition, however, Johnson is averaging 3.3 points and shooting 7 of 27.

Packing only 180 pounds on his 6-foot-5 frame, Johnson acknowledged that the physicality of men’s college hoops has been challenging.

“I’ve been trying to get in the weight room a lot more with coach Randy (Towner, the UK men’s hoops strength coach), 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.”

The other big adjustment to college basketball for a guy used to logging a star’s playing time is learning how to play off the bench, Johnson said.

“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.”

Johnson came to UK with the reputation of a dynamic scorer. At least for this season, his highest value to Kentucky may be if he can become enough of a facilitator to take pressure off of Lowe.

“People look at him and think he’s a score-first type of guard,” Williams said of Johnson. “But he’s showing each and every game that he’s more than a scorer.”

Said Johnson: “I think of myself as a point guard, a combo guard. I can play one or two, (can play) on or off the ball. Whatever my coach needs from me, I feel like I can go out there and do it.”

Kentucky’s first game after its holiday break will be at Alabama on Jan. 3. The Crimson Tide, along with UK and North Carolina, were finalists in Johnson’s recruitment.

“I play every game special, but that one is special for sure,” Johnson said of the trip to Alabama. “They were in my top three. Coach (Nate) Oats, I had a good relationship, but having to be (at UK) was a better move for me.”

First things first, Johnson said he does not “have much” on his Christmas list this year. “I just want to see my family, spend time with them like the old days,” he said. “Christmas, with that nostalgic feeling, is a gift alone.”

If, by season’s end, Jasper Johnson can grow into UK basketball’s backcourt “X factor,” Mark Pope — and Kentucky fans — will be getting their gifts in March.

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