I was drinking beer with my brother, having a surprisingly fun time because we were up by 9 points... and then I saw Jasper jog over to the scores table and I literally said "oh no..." It has happened so many times this season and even last season. A coach that can't see, what the rest of us so painstakingly see, really worries me. No hate to Jasper but I think the whole OTE/TikTok culture has really hurt his preparation and he might be "KY till I die" but he's not good enough to play for Kentucky. Thoughts on him coming back/role for next year?
Jasper
- Thread starter VC99
- Start date
He was a Carolina fan, how can your family play for UK and you live in Kentucky, but root for Carolina. All I need to know. Plus he sucks and no I don’t want him back.
Last edited:
He dad was a beast of a man. So strong and intense as a player at uk. How is jasper so weak being his son?
Pope cannot let him come back next year. While he did somehow average 5 PPG, he might’ve been the biggest bust I’ve seen over the last 15-20 years closely following UK. A top 30 ranked combo guard prospect, that was literally unplayable.
I think if he puts on 20 plus pounds and plays off ball, he can have a solid college career. But UK can’t take that risk on him.
The biggest bust by far was skal, but jasper is up there.
He can’t handle the ball against pressure. He needs to go somewhere like Ala where he can shoot as much as he wants. It’s basically all he can do.
The kid isn't that good. But he's also been put in terrible positions. His confidence is shot. He's done at UK.
He might give you 5 pts but he'll have 3 turnovers and his man will score 8.
Please stop bashing our players especially our Kentucky freshman, Please understand that is not their fault. They didn’t receive the proper coaching, conditioning , player development or mental training.
with good coaching , MM , JJ, but also AJ, KW, CC and others will develop into very nice players in time.
we need players continuation and development for this program to be successful again. Of course we need a new coach that can do all that also recruit.
with good coaching , MM , JJ, but also AJ, KW, CC and others will develop into very nice players in time.
we need players continuation and development for this program to be successful again. Of course we need a new coach that can do all that also recruit.
Skal would actually bring something to the team, JJ only brings turnovers lol.
I have no idea how he was ranked that high. I guess his flashy style against slow unathletic white kids worked in HS. Just good enough to score in the no defense playing AAU culture where he had to do nothing other than be flashy and shoot the ball.
Last edited:
Yeah, yesterday (and many other days) showed that Pope was just guessing on offense all year and depending on Oweh to take over or Aberdeen to make plays. Our game prep is horrific.
JJ wasn't very good this year, but I see the potential. I don't think he will come close to reaching it under Pope. No matter where he goes, he does need to hit the weight room.
Or.. and hear me out cause this is a crazy concept: the players aren’t that good regardless of Pope sucking
He had a really bad freshman year. I've been disappointed in his play as much as the next person, but there were a ton and I mean a ton of coaches that would've love to have had him. And I mean high level programs. He has much work to do, not sure what his plans are for being here or not next year, but his problems are not solely his. Development by the staff did not meet playing time. He was simply not ready for this time of year. To put him in in those situations was coaching malpractice. Jasper is a talent, not sure if he is right for UK or not, but he needs a good off season of development.
JJ is 6’5 but plays like he’s 5’8. I’ve never seen a supposed PG be so weak in the handle and finishing department. Rob Dillingham was even smaller than JJ but was tough as nails. I don’t get it.
Malachi too. Just straight up soft. Kentucky high school basketball doesn’t prepare kids for college. Reed is the exception but he had a Dad that absolutely knew what it takes to make it D1.
Malachi too. Just straight up soft. Kentucky high school basketball doesn’t prepare kids for college. Reed is the exception but he had a Dad that absolutely knew what it takes to make it D1.
JJ is one of the more selfish players to ever suit up at UK, all-time, he’s putting it up no matter what as soon as he comes off the bench. He plays and looks like he could give two flying F’s about the actual game as long as he gets his.
I do NOT want him back! He’s terrible and has zero desire to get better. If he did, we would be saw some improvement. I want him OUT!
EDIT: Plus, he’s a Carolina fan anyway. I’m all for bringing guys back. I just don’t think he’ll be very good for any program in any situation.
This! He doesn’t understand time, score and/or situational basketball at all! He has some of the worst shot selection I’ve ever seen. Not to mention, he’s a TO waiting to happen.
In fairness, I think Pope DOES see it. It seems clear he doesn’t want to play Jasper, but he doesn’t have a choice because we have no other backup guards. The lack of ANY true point guards on this roster has been its fatal flaw all season long. We had NOBODY suited to play the game’s most important position …which is absolute roster construction malpractice by Pope.
As for Jasper, somebody really should have explained to him during his developmental years that there’s more to the game than just scoring. Jacking up shots seems to be the only thing he truly understands. He stinks at everything else …can’t handle the ball against high pressure, a bad passer, a turnover machine, and a terrible defender.
Let's make sure the players understand:
LEAVE
Edit: over emotional response. The players want to stay they should stay. Especially anybody born in the state of Kentucky. I will not cross that line.
LEAVE
Edit: over emotional response. The players want to stay they should stay. Especially anybody born in the state of Kentucky. I will not cross that line.
Last edited:
actually I'm in the minority here - I want him back
I just want him leashed and understanding what his role is. Heat check guy is not him
plus he needs to work all summer on facing pressing defenses - he falls apart in that situation.
I think he is the kind of guy that if he dedicates himself to working on his weaknesses AND learns some basketball discipline, he'll be a killer by his Jr or Sr year.
I just want him leashed and understanding what his role is. Heat check guy is not him
plus he needs to work all summer on facing pressing defenses - he falls apart in that situation.
I think he is the kind of guy that if he dedicates himself to working on his weaknesses AND learns some basketball discipline, he'll be a killer by his Jr or Sr year.
1. I'd take him back....but I don't know his NIL...if it's high....then addios as he's got along way to go. But he is 6'5...has some athletcism.
2. He's not a PG....it will take way too long to develop that mindset...nor is he a backup
3. He simply is a very immature physically college player...has got to add strength. THen he is got a very immature bball IQ.....(be skeptical off these overtime elite hype machines.....they do nothing to prepare these kids). So he needs some tough coaching.
Is Pope the one to get him over the hump....probably not. But I'd rather UK take that risk than overspend in portal and get a lesser talent that has reached his ceiling.
2. He's not a PG....it will take way too long to develop that mindset...nor is he a backup
3. He simply is a very immature physically college player...has got to add strength. THen he is got a very immature bball IQ.....(be skeptical off these overtime elite hype machines.....they do nothing to prepare these kids). So he needs some tough coaching.
Is Pope the one to get him over the hump....probably not. But I'd rather UK take that risk than overspend in portal and get a lesser talent that has reached his ceiling.
One of the biggest problems with this team was a lack of ball handlers. Surprisingly, the only decent ball handler was Aberdeen, and he wasn’t great at it. Of course Lowe is a really good ball handler, so that injury really hurt.
Obviously, the Iowa St staff recognized this, and immediately doubled every one of our guards when they had the ball in their hands. 20 turnovers says their strategy paid off.
Obviously, the Iowa St staff recognized this, and immediately doubled every one of our guards when they had the ball in their hands. 20 turnovers says their strategy paid off.
Its unbelievable how bad he was. He was always an instant -10 point swing every time he came in. Ball security terrible, jacking up endless bad shots, no defense. Just absolutely awful. Yet, every game we'd run him out there expecting something different.
This is all on Pope on multiple levels. You know the kid is a disaster but play him anyway. One of the greatest freshman classes in history and we massively overpay for THIS kid. That's both a failure in scouting and a pathetic show of where our recruiting weight is.
He has so much to work on, he is a 4 year player. He's extremely weak especially lower body. That causes him to play and dribble high which is why he gets ripped so easy. It also prevents him from being able to beat anyone off dribble. He has zero athletic base because he shoots with his feet together. Plus he has no off hand and lacks elite hops. These are all things I said from the beginning. Every single person who gave this kid a high eval should quit.
Daddy must’ve called Pope after Jasper didn’t get to play.
They get paid handsomely. More than most working Americans who support families. If you aren't playing well or giving effort then you should be criticized.
I’ve never been impressed with the kid. Even his highlight videos are trash. Yeah, he can step back 3, that’s about it. When we signed him, my reaction was like meh, isn’t that good. Definitely not a year one impact guy. I think Pope felt pressure to sign him as an in state kid and a legacy.
Even Reed, as good as he was, had moments where he wilted and disappeared.
I agree...its hard to understand how all these other freshman killed it other places but they were not good here. I have seen our guys play AAU against some of these other kids and our guys can hold there own. They are not as bad as they have looked this year. Another coach could change things.
triple digit negative +/- from conference play on, and he barely played
I think Jasper will eventually become a really good player. The problem with having Jasper next year on this team is he’s gonna expect big minutes. Mark Pope is going to be fighting for his job next year. He cannot afford to have Jasper getting 20+ minutes a game with so many flaws in his game. If Mark Pope wants to keep his job, I don’t think he can afford to have Jasper on his roster next year.
TIFWIW - everyone on KSR says Jasper will not be back at Kentucky next year
