Men's Basketball

Kentucky Commit Jasper Johnson Excels at Iverson Classic

Jasper Johnson showed out at the Iverson Classic, shining light on his own potential and bringing more excitement to the ‘Cats incoming class.

Published

1 month ago

May 9, 2025

Lane Mills

Chet White | UK Athletics

Amidst the excitement of Kentucky’s exceptional incoming transfer class, many have forgotten about (arguably) Mark Pope’s most exciting freshman: Jasper Johnson.

While Johnson, ranked 18th among freshman by ESPN, is a Kentucky kid at heart, his recruitment was easily the most widespread and heavily contested of any of the first-year Wildcats on the 2025-26 team. For a while, he was heavily favored to land with Nate Oats in Alabama, before the Pope regime swooped in behind the scenes and, clearly, pulled every necessary string. He officially announced his commitment to the ‘Cats in September of last year.

Now, Johnson is traveling across the country for various all-star-level competitions leading up to his first year of collegiate play. The latest in that string came in the form of the Iverson Classic, put on and named by the NBA legend Allen Iverson – as he has been just about everywhere else, the Kentucky commit made a real splash.

Walking Highlight Reel

In the game, which took place last weekend, Johnson tallied 17 points, five rebounds, and four assists, stuffing the stat sheet in an all-around performance with highlights across the board. In addition to a couple of effortless slams and automatic triples, a video of Iverson and Johnson meeting at mid-court prior to the match took off across Overtime Elite’s social media, followed by a portion of his tape.

Jasper Johnson did his thing at the Iverson Classic 💫 @BruhJasperJ

17 PTS l 5 REB l 4 AST pic.twitter.com/VrBTNO7dBs— Overtime Elite (@OvertimeElite) May 4, 2025

Johnson is only just scratching the surface of his ability as a player and, given the high likelihood that he’ll come off the bench during his first season in Lexington, it only speaks to the team’s incredible depth and high ceiling.

However and whenever he plays, the freshman guard will surely make an immediate impact. With November and the beginning of the season still six months down the line, however, ‘Cats fans will have to rely on videos like the one above to hold them over before they get to see their own battling for the blue and white in Rupp Arena.

Men's Basketball

Jasper Johnson Makes Final U19 USA Roster Under Coach Mark Pope

Jasper Johnson has advanced in the U19 USA camp for the second time alongside the nation’s best recruits, and under Mark Pope’s wing.

Published

4 hours ago

June 20, 2025

Lane Mills

Instagram: @bruhjasperj (UK Athletics)

In a surprisingly relevant development smack dab in the middle of the offseason, Jasper Johnson has yet again advanced in the pool of players participating in the USA U19 camp.

The program, which could be a described as a sort of extension of the Team USA that just took home the gold in 2024, is comprised of some of the nation’s most anticipated talents set to take collegiate courts in the next couple of seasons.

Blue Gets In

Among them is Kentucky native and commit Johnson, and was also incoming Cat Malachi Moreno, before the latter was cut as a result of a mild injury he obtained throughout the camp’s course. Despite Moreno’s exit, his future teammate continues to impress.

Under the wing of Coach Mark Pope, who’s helmed the team in the camp up to this point, Johnson has now made the final cut after multiple roster slashes – he and only 11 other players remain in the minority that will go forward to actually compete for the team in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which will take place June 28 through July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The pre-competition camp serves not only as a trial of play before these athletes disperse to their own respective rosters this fall and next, but for Johnson, as a preview of what it’s like to play under Coach Pope. If his current success is any indicator, Kentucky fans may be in for something special when the pair tackle opposing teams together for the blue and white.

In similar noteworthy news, also attending the event are Taylen Kinney and Tyran Stokes, two Kentucky-born athletes with ties to Kentucky that the program is heavily recruiting. Jasper’s strong performance, combined with Coach Pope’s presence, can only help the Wildcats’ chances on that front, too.

To say the least, Mark Pope has found a way to facilitate Kentucky’s influence far beyond the boundaries of Lexington. He and Johnson, for the time being, will continue to press turn heads on the national stage, and it’s very likely that fans aren’t the only ones paying attention.

Men's Basketball

Archie Goodwin and Kahlil Whitney Set to Join La Familia This Summer

La Familia continues to add more firepower to the 2025 roster.

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Kai McClelland

James Crisp (Left), Adam Hunger (Right) | Associated Press

As the start of the 2025 TBT Tournament inches closer, La Familia has been slowly but surely adding star Wildcats to the roster.

Usually, we see announcements for new additions to the squad roll out on social media in some form, whether it be a post from La Familia’s official accounts or in form of Ansley Almonor’s announcement, which took place on BBN Tonight.

However, this time, Archie Goodwin and Kahlil “The Dragon” Whitney were added to the roster on the TBT website without any announcement, surprising Big Blue Nation as the news leaked and began to circulate.

They were removed from the website afterwards, but as of Thursday, June 19, appear on the website as listed members of the roster.

Goodwin has been an active member for years, highlighted by his semifinals appearance last year where he averaged 13.8 points per game en route.

Whitney is a name that may cause some to shed a tear, with so much potential surrounding the former five-star leading up to his debut. Ultimately, he left the program after appearing in just 18 games for Kentucky.

La Familia is competitive as all get out, shown by chippy play with guys who have nothing to lose but everything to win for the place they call home. Goodwin and Whitney, now added to that list of guys, will look to redeem themselves with one goal in mind. Win.

The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)

Men's Basketball

Former Kentucky Star, 10-year NBA Veteran Eric Bledsoe Arrested and Charged with Felony Domestic Violence

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Tristan Pharis

Former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe has been arrested and charged with felony domestic violence.

Scott Utterback | Courier Journal

Eric Bledsoe, a key part of the 2009-10 Kentucky team that reinvigorated the Big Blue Nation following the Billy Gillispie era, was arrested on Wednesday morning.

According to reports, the California Highway Patrol investigated a report of domestic violence. The investigators were led to a gas station on a Los Angeles-area freeway where they discovered Bledsoe with a woman who was suffering from “bruising and swelling” to her face, and who said that Bledsoe allegedly hit her. Bledsoe was booked on a felony domestic violence charge and held on $55,000 bail.

Bledsoe was previously arrested on a similar charge back in 2022, but that case was later dropped when prosecutors said the alleged victim gave “inconsistent statements about whether there was a physical altercation.”

Bledsoe was part of Kentucky’s La Familia team last year in the TBT, and was announced to return again this season.