Whatever they were working on with Jasper was an abysmal failure. He regressed as the season went on and played tight every time he checked into a game. I actually don't think he's as bad of a player as he showed. He'll probably transfer and have a miraculous improvement in his game.
Jasper
- Thread starter VC99
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He was terrible this year but I do think there’s something there. He needs to be coached up but that isn’t going to happen under Pope. And he knows it.
This is 100% spot on correct. This was the biggest issue with this team.
Had the EXACT same reaction. Turned to my friend and said, "oh no ... here it goes ... we're screwed."
Worse, before the game I sent the following in my group chat:
"If Jasper Johnson gets his standard 2 minutes in the first half then Mark Pope is not serious about winning this game."
I still cannot believe how badly things went in 1 minute and 30 seconds. I've never seen anything like it.
They play where Jasper kind of just fell down and lost the ball momentum changed and never came back our way. Disaster.
Kind of felt like they rolled me out there for two minutes.
Jasper is a streaky player who can really go on a tear. He has a petite frame and looks boyish on the court. It’s really difficult to play men when you are built like a boy. Did they have a weight program at his school? Didn’t his football family members offer to train him?
With a much stronger build, he could spell time at a PG position. But to play PG against men, you either need to be strong or be really fast with an incredible handle. He is neither.
His season would have been better at 2G but injuries and departures put him in a bad spot. He needs a true off season transformation, regardless of where he plays. He also needs a PG so he can play on the wing.
With a much stronger build, he could spell time at a PG position. But to play PG against men, you either need to be strong or be really fast with an incredible handle. He is neither.
His season would have been better at 2G but injuries and departures put him in a bad spot. He needs a true off season transformation, regardless of where he plays. He also needs a PG so he can play on the wing.
Absolutely not. The dude should never play PG ever again. The problem with him playing point is not lack of strength. Instead, it’s that he’s a terrible ball handler against pressure, has poor court vision which makes him an awful passer/distributor, is a terrible decision maker, and can’t stay in front of quick points defensively. The weight room ain’t gonna fix those flaws.
I do think he shows legit potential as a wing scorer. So I wouldn’t mind if he comes back in that role: play him exclusively at the wing spots from now on as a role player who can provide some offense of the bench.
But the failed experiment with Pope trying to play him at the point position needs to be finished forever.
Different situations because of injury—but some strong Antwain Barbour vibes with Jasper. Simply from an expectations standpoint. I do think Barbour’s career turns out completely different if he doesn’t break his hand three games into his career. Jasper doesn’t have the same excuse.
Coaches' fault. They didn't develop him at all this year. He looked like the same player he was during the pre-season.
How about that Luka Doncic-esque double step-back?This is Overtime Elite ball in a nutshell.
I laughed really hard at this during the game. It was so stupid and absurd ... definitely the perfect example of OTE culture and what a lot of kids think actually works these days.
what was the last game where he "went on a tear".
if he wasnt from kentucky everyone here would be helping him pack.
Pope should have rolled him out of the gate hard with a ton of minutes early in the season to better prepare him or redshirted him like Hawthorne and Potter. Did Jasper no good to play this season the way he was used.
He had his opportunity and wasn't ready for it, too much AAU in his game, not enough dog.
I agree he isn't ready. Why didn't Pope go get another portal guard that was proven? Ik we will never know the answer..just seems Pope would be able to see what kind of player Jasper was. Would rather Lewis stayed and Jasper transferred. Now they will both be gone.
He is not a pg and Jasper is not a talent. If UK plays with a pg or two next year and Jasper plays the two guard and learn to move his feet on defense he can be very good.
I would put him 3rd in biggest busts. I have Khalil "The Dragon" Whitley at #1 followed by Skal at #2
I agree, wholeheartedly!!
Coach Pope should've made sure he understood not to throw the ball to the other team
Coach Pope should've made sure he understood to not just dribble up within five seconds of having the ball and shoot a 30 foot three pointer
Coach Pope should've made sure the player understood that the other guy with the ball should not be allowed to put it through the round thing with a net below it.
There is much that Pope has done wrong, but this young man excelled and making wrong decisions
Redshirting him was never an option, because we have no other backup guards. The reason we could RS Hawthorne and Potter is because we were deep enough with bigs to have no need for them. That wasn’t the case at the guard spots.
And I’m pretty sure JJ would not have been willing to redshirt, giving that he came in with big five star expectations.
it’s funny watching posters looking for ways to blame Pope …instead of acknowledging that he’s just not a good player.
false narrative. kid played plenty....
23 min vs nich
17 min vs val
6 min vs ul
19 min vs eiu
14 min vs msu
27 min vs lmd
21 min vs tntc
5 min vs unc
19 min vs gonz
19 min vs nccu
3 min vs iu
8 min vs st johns
22 min vs bell
kid averaged 15 mins per game over the first 13 games. it became very clear that he could not play in games against real teams. something that is true today as evident by his -9 in 6 minutes vs isu. he was a disaster those games and playing 3-5 minutes more vs valpo wasnt going to change that.
players need to take accountability, jasper did nothing to change himself for the better throughout the year. again....if he wasnt from kentucky....we arent having this conversation.
Jasper never developed. I don't know if he can without adding bulk to his frame. He looks like a child and played like it too.
You listed 4 games where he got 20 or more minutes. That's with us not having a single pg. Not a false narrative. He wasn't told what to do just thrown in there. Pope has no clue what he's doing. You don't recruit a player like Jasper then try to act like he's collin Chandler. He was aau when Pope recruited him.
I never said Jasper was great. Literally said he isn't that good.he was used poorly on top of not being that good.
I want JJ, MM and CC back with one caveat. We have to have the right coaches to develop them. Chandler is a 4-year guy. Jasper and Moreno are 2-4 guys. With proper development, those guys are beasts by the time they leave. You have to have the proper development though.
I have been the hardest on Moreno, but there is talent there. You need these guys to stick around. Look at Smith at Purdue, Clark at UCLA, Hopkins at SJU. There has to be a mix of young high-level talent and older, developed guys.
I have been the hardest on Moreno, but there is talent there. You need these guys to stick around. Look at Smith at Purdue, Clark at UCLA, Hopkins at SJU. There has to be a mix of young high-level talent and older, developed guys.
Jasper like most of the players have not developed any skills throughout the season. He footwork and body position is terrible and hasn't been corrected. He's the same player he was at the start of the season. Just like our bigs have no drop steps, spins, or quality shots around the basketball. The only way this happens is lack of coaching. "Drills" are done to develop muscle memory which obviously is not happening. Jasper won't be back along with Moreno and maybe more. Just like our players weren't "in condition" to play 35 mins a game. Also has anyone noticed Jasper and Moreno don't appear to have gained a pound this season? Just so many red flags with this coaching staff in every area.
Respectfully, BULL-SH*T. Jasper isn't some child to be coddled. He's a paid professional.
You're telling me Jasper didn't know where the gym was? Give me a gol-dang break. He should have been pumping iron 4 hours a day given his lack of playing time. You're getting a free ride and a fat check and you still have skinny arms after six months? Pathetic.
I’ve been pretty hard on him and I feel a little bit bad about it. He has never had great coaching or guidance on the court or the other stuff he needs to do off the court. That’s not his fault. He’s not a PG and was forced to try to play it. I would say that there are a lot of things he should be able to do without coaching however. Like shooting and having his body in shape.
you said he need more minutes. he got plenty of clock. basketball isnt that hard. this is like travis perry stuff who couldnt get the ball past half court. johnson does nothing remotely well on either side of the ball. him not playing position X changes that reality.
For everyone attacking our players, especially our freshman and their families. Please think twice, before you do it. They are 19 years old, even if they get paid, they are still young and need emotional support.
do you think MM production was not influenced negatively when so called fans attacked his family?!
Same with JJ. Say whatever you want about MP, about MB but the leave the freshmen players alone. It’s normal for them to do mistakes they are freshmen and had a horrible coaching!
If you think this year was bad , just wait for next year…..who will want to come and play for MP and a fan base that attacks players and their families .
this is really bad to go after someone family .
do you think MM production was not influenced negatively when so called fans attacked his family?!
Same with JJ. Say whatever you want about MP, about MB but the leave the freshmen players alone. It’s normal for them to do mistakes they are freshmen and had a horrible coaching!
If you think this year was bad , just wait for next year…..who will want to come and play for MP and a fan base that attacks players and their families .
this is really bad to go after someone family .
Develop him? You can either dribble the ball or you can't. You Bennies thought JJ was a one and done before the season started.
Jasper has talent. He could turn into a really good player. He needs to gain strength, confidence and handles. He was not ready for the SEC or NCAA tournament teams. If he wanted to develop, he could be really good. It seems no person who comes to UK is willing to develop so I suspect he moves on.
The current Jasper Johnson shouldn't have seen time in important games.
The current Jasper Johnson shouldn't have seen time in important games.
Well what heck did he do all season as far as practicing his handles. He knew he was backup pg when Lowe went down. Had 5 months to improve but actually regressed. Love to know how much time he spent in gym trying to improve pg skills. He is pouty and super unlikable. Kentucky kid or not. Popes fault for playing him at all!
But he had his chance, and probably didn't deserve as much time as he was given. He's to fragile to take an SEC beating. Needs to hit the weights hard where ever he goes.
I don't care if he comes back, he will get better with work. But he is not the guard I see starting until late JR or Sr year at best, on a good team.