5-star SG Jasper Johnson discusses visit to Alabama, thoughts on Tide program

Five-star shooting guard Jasper Johnson has become one of the most coveted prospects in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-4 rising senior originally from Lexington, Kentucky is ranked as the No. 10 overall player in the country, according to On3’s Industry Ranking.

Earlier this week, Johnson took an official visit to Alabama. It wasn’t his first time in Tuscaloosa as he says he’s unofficially visited “two or three times.”

I spoke with the five-star over the phone to get a recap of his time on campus.

Johnson dives into his trip to Alabama

“I enjoyed it,” he said. “Coach Oats has been recruiting me for awhile. I’ve already been on campus a couple of times and got to see the area. Just seeing their play style and what he has in mind for me. He’s been producing guys into the League every year at a consistent rate. That means he knows what he’s talking about.”

So, how exactly does Nate Oats envision Johnson in his program?

“Being able to come in year one and play big minutes,” Johnson said. “Me leading his team, whether that’s scoring, off the ball, defending. Just growing and developing. He’s trying to get me as efficient as possible and preparing me for the Draft.”

Johnson draws comparisons to Brandon Miller

Oats sees certain parallels between Johnson and one former Bama player in particular.

“He kind’ve compared me to Brandon Miller a little bit. With his ability to be able to score. He was telling me, coming in, Brandon Miller wasn’t really the most efficient scorer, but he could still score the ball at a high level. (Oats) was showing me some film and some data and things like that to compare me to (Miller’s) game. It meant a lot. It showed he put time and effort into looking at me.”

His relationship with Nate Oats

Johnson speaking highly of his relationship with coach Oats.

“It’s good. I’ve known (Oats) for three years now and we’ve just been building that relationship over time. It’s been good, reaching out to me. I’ll be very interested to see them play this season.”

Johnson has had multiple recruiting coaches at Bama due to them accepting head coaching positions.

“My freshman year, it was coach Pettway but after that year he ended up leaving (for Kennesaw State). Then this previous year, coach Claunch was my recruiting coach and he’s recently left and got a new job. Now I’m on my third recruiting coach from there, coach Preston. But coach Oats has always been consistently reaching out to me, checking in on me, things like that.”

The Final Four run

Johnson says he watched the Tide this past season and saw the success they had.

“I definitely watched them, watched their Final Four run this year. Obviously they give their guards a lot of freedom. Coach told me he wants to talk a lot of threes and he’s recruiting me to be able to take them and make those threes. So seeing that and their game plan, and seeing how free it is at the guard position, it’s a good thing.”

Johnson played his junior season at powerhouse Link Academy (MO), alongside now Alabama freshman point guard Labaron Philon. He also played EYBL with Team Thad, alongside Philon and another ‘Bama freshman, Derrion Reid.

Bill Armstrong, the former head coach at Link, recently accepted a job as an assistant coach at Baylor so Johnson is currently examining his high school options for his senior year.

As mentioned before, Johnson is a native of Lexington so it’s no surprise new head coach Mark Pope and the Wildcats are making him a priority recruit.

If Nate Oats and Alabama are able to land Johnson, it would be a massive win on the recruiting trail for the Tide.

In addition to Alabama and Kentucky, Jasper Johnson is also being recruited by the likes of Illinois, Missouri, Auburn, North Carolina, Louisville, Baylor, amongst others.

Jasper Johnson Scouting Report

“Jasper Johnson is a lefty with nice size and good length. What he does is shoot the ball. Johnson has deep range that extends well beyond the three-point arc, and he is at he’s best in catch and shoot or with one/two dribble pull-ups. Would like to see Johnson tighten the handle, can struggle once he is in the paint, especially going right. Lacks blow by burst off the bounce at this point but he is a good straight line athlete with a head of steam. Has a crafty lay-up package around the basket, especially with the left hand. Solid explosion with a running start. Can get beat off the bounce in the open floor on defense. Will use both hands to dribble, but most of the time it comes back to his left hand. The range extends well beyond the three-point arc. Plays with a lot of confidence. Can get you into sets. Dad played football at Kentucky and NFL.” – On3’s Jamie Shaw

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