As Mark Pope’s weekly radio show wound down Monday night, one final fan message cut through the usual chatter — and it made the Kentucky coach smile.
“Turn Jasper loose.”
It wasn’t so much a question as it was a suggestion, the kind UK fans are never shy about offering. Pope, clearly amused, didn’t dismiss the idea. In fact, his response hinted that it might already be happening.
Pope praised freshman guard Jasper Johnson’s passing ability, calling it an “underappreciated” part of his game. Like most first-year players, Johnson has had to navigate a steep learning curve, particularly when it comes to reading the floor and delivering passes under pressure. But Pope believes progress is obvious.
Johnson, he noted, is getting better at finding gaps, exploiting seams, and making plays on the move. He’s also developed strong chemistry with Kentucky’s big men and, according to Pope, is one of the roster’s best players at hitting the roll man. When Johnson attacks downhill with purpose, Pope sees real playmaking potential — and expects those moments to come more often.
That belief may soon be tested.
Earlier in the radio show, Pope confirmed that starting point guard Jaland Lowe will undergo surgery on his right shoulder and miss the rest of the 2025–26 season. The loss reshapes Kentucky’s backcourt rotation and forces new responsibilities onto younger players.
Denzel Aberdeen is the obvious candidate to handle most of the primary point guard duties, but Johnson — a 6-foot-5 freshman from Lexington — appears poised to claim a significant share of the backup minutes, if not more.
Just a week ago, losing Lowe for good might have felt like a fatal blow. Kentucky’s offense often unraveled without him on the floor. But something changed Saturday night against Mississippi State.
Lowe exited before the first TV timeout, and instead of folding, the Wildcats regrouped. What followed was Kentucky’s most complete performance of the season — a dominant second half that turned a shaky start into a 92–68 blowout win at Rupp Arena.
Earlier Monday, before the final decision was made to shut Lowe down, Pope was asked whether Johnson could handle a bigger role if the point guard situation worsened.
“Jasper’s ready,” Pope said without hesitation.
He pointed to Johnson’s growth through nonconference play, his daily work ethic, and the subtle impact he made against Mississippi State. While the box score didn’t jump off the page, Pope was impressed by Johnson’s decisiveness and physicality on both ends of the floor.
Kentucky, Pope said, needs Johnson — not just because of injuries, but because he brings something unique.
That uniqueness is why Johnson was once considered one of the elite recruits in the 2025 class. When Pope secured his commitment — fending off Alabama and North Carolina — Johnson was viewed as a clear five-star talent. Though his ranking slipped late in the cycle, from top-10 status to No. 24 in the final 247Sports composite, the skill set never disappeared.
The challenge has been translating it consistently at the college level.
Against lower-level competition, Johnson has thrived. In seven such games, he’s averaging 11.3 points and 4.9 assists in just over 21 minutes per contest. Against high-major opponents, the numbers tell a different story: 3.1 points and 0.4 assists in limited minutes across eight games.
Now, with SEC play underway and 15 conference games remaining — starting Wednesday night at LSU — Kentucky won’t see another “easy” opponent.
Still, Pope believes Johnson is close.
There were signs against Mississippi State. Johnson buried a crucial three-pointer midway through the first half to give Kentucky its first lead after an early double-digit deficit. Later, he showcased his speed and creativity with a coast-to-coast layup that energized the crowd.
“For me, it’s about force,” Pope said. “When he’s physical, shoulders down, explosive in his slippery way — when he demands to get where he wants — he becomes a real problem.”
Pope went on to call Johnson “probably” the team’s most gifted passer, praised his scoring burst, and noted steady improvement on the defensive end.
Teammates have noticed, too. Leading scorer Otega Oweh highlighted Johnson’s impact after Lowe went down, crediting him for stepping into the moment and continuing to grow with every opportunity.
There’s no question Johnson has tools others on the roster don’t. His creativity, handle, and ability to navigate tight spaces made him one of the most dangerous guards in his high school class. But those same traits can work against him. At times, he over-dribbles, particularly against disciplined defenses, leading to stalled possessions and costly turnovers.
That was evident in Kentucky’s SEC opener at Alabama, when Johnson’s lone stat was a turnover on a lazy pass that turned into a Crimson Tide basket. He was quickly pulled and didn’t play again — then logged his first DNP four days later in the loss to Missouri.
Saturday might have gone the same way if not for Lowe’s injury. Instead, Johnson seized the opening.
“I thought this was his best high-major game,” Pope said afterward. “He made sense of the game.”
Pope added that Johnson will likely be asked to carry significant minutes moving forward — and that Saturday’s performance was an encouraging sign of what could be coming.
Johnson has teased that breakout before. He poured in 22 points against North Carolina Central in December, then followed with 11 points and seven assists against Bellarmine, shooting well from deep and limiting mistakes. But both performances came against weaker competition, and the momentum didn’t carry over.
Now, there’s no hiding from the spotlight.
Kentucky’s schedule is nothing but big games from here on out, and the Wildcats need Johnson to bring consistency to match his talent.
Pope remains encouraged, pointing to Johnson’s mindset more than his stat line.
He praised the freshman’s resilience, focus, and refusal to get distracted by minutes, criticism, or praise — all common traps for young players.
“It’s a zig-zag road,” Pope said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be for a freshman. But he’s stayed focused on getting better.”
With Lowe gone, that growth is no longer optional.
It might finally be time to turn Jasper loose.
