Film Room: Jasper Johnson

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A line in the sand has officially been drawn. The best of the best from the Bluegrass State play at Kentucky. Reed Sheppard started the trend, then Travis Perry and Trent Noah continued it into the 2024 class. Now, after a regime change, Coach Mark Pope has landed his first two commitments from within the Commonwealth. However, these aren’t just your everyday Kentucky boys. On August 16th, the first domino fell as 7’0″ center Malachi Moreno, a four-star, Top 25 prospect, committed to Kentucky. Now, on September 5th, Coach Pope has landed his first five-star in Lexington native Jasper Johnson.

Ranked #11 in the On3 Industry Ranking, Johnson ultimately chose to stay home and play for the ‘Cats over Alabama and North Carolina. His recruitment has been a wild one to follow over the last few weeks and months. Much was made about growing up a fan of the Tar Heels and the relationship he had built with Coach Nate Oats and the Alabama staff. Name, Image, and Likeness money was talked about a lot as well with Kentucky seemed to be playing from behind until the very end. However, Coach Pope was able to make up ground and close on the five-star legacy recruit in impressive fashion.

After starring at Woodford County High School, Johnson transferred to national powerhouse Link Academy for his junior season. Playing in the EYBL Scholastic League, the 6’4″ left-handed guard averaged 13.5 points per game while shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc. Then, across 17 games between the EYBL Circuit and Peach Jam this summer, Johnson put up 16.3 points per game. He also shined with the USA Men’s U18 National Team scoring 10.0 points per game and shooting a team-best 42.3% from three while earning a gold medal. His undeniable scoring prowess, upside as a shooter, and ability to create his own shot from anywhere on the floor is what made him such a highly sought after prospect. Let’s step inside the KSR Film Room and take a closer look at the newest Kentucky Wildcat, Jasper Johnson.

Shot-Creation

This is where Jasper Johnson shines. Questions about his shot selection will exist until we see him in a Kentucky uniform, but there is no denying what he can do as a shot creator. Are some of those shots the highest percentage? No, probably not. However, possessing the skill to create shot attempts in tight windows is the first step of the equation. Similar questions surrounded Rob Dillingham as well and we all know how that worked out. It is much easier for Coach Pope to reign in the shot selection than it would be to teach Johnson how to create shots. He has the quickness and ball skill to be able to create separation in a phone booth. That is a skill that can translate to the college level.

You can tell that Jasper Johnson has spent countless hours in a gym working on his game. These are the type of moves that come from high-level training and pushing yourself in individual workouts. To the untrained eye this may look like a bit of a wild step back three-point attempt. However, to a basketball coach, you can see the detail and technical execution that makes Johnson successful. When Johnson starts his move towards the baseline notice how much ground he covers with his left foot stride and how low gets. His back is nearly parallel to the ground. That level of “selling” forces his defender to open the gate and prepare to guard the drive. All along though, Johnson was setting him up for the step back. That is creating separation and scoring in a tight window.

There are a lot of high school players that can score in space. However, to translate to the college level, you need to be able to score in tighter windows. That is the theme with Jasper Johnson. He does not need much space at all to get his shot off. Here you see him operating off of a downhill ballscreen. The secondary defender doesn’t step up enough so Johnson simply elevates and knocks in the three-point attempt. It only took one dribble for Johnson to get open.

Similar to the previous clip, this is a look at how Johnson can create separation in a small window. Playing off of the Horns ballscreen, Johnson is reading the secondary defender to make his decision. Once the defender starts to retreat that triggers Johnson to immediately rise up. The on-ball defender is getting back into the play, but it happens too late. From the point of the ballscreen it was just two dribbles into the shot. Those are the type of shots that will translate to the college level.

When we talk about creating space in a phone booth and scoring in tight windows this is what it looks like on film. Jasper Johnson is up against the sideline with a bigger, longer defender guarding him. However, with some crafty dribble moves he is able to get the separation he needs for the little side step three-point shot. As soon as the defender reaches, Johnson covers ground to his right to get away from the contest. Shots like these are what made Johnson a five-star prospect.

Intermediate Range Scoring

Positional size and length with Jasper Johnson is not a concern. At 6’4″ he can see over the defense, elevate to create vertical separation, and finish out beyond primary or secondary defenders with his length. This really shines in his intermediate game. Johnson has developed a running hook shot that elicits memories of Michigan’s Zavier Simpson. Between that unique shot, a more traditional floater, and his ability to stop and pop with a jump shot, Johnson has proven to be effective in that six to 12 foot range. That will be an area he will score in at the collegiate level as he faces aggressive closeouts to take away his three-point shooting ability.

Here in the KSR Film Room we put an emphasis on breaking down film that actually translates to the college level. This play is a perfect example of that. Johnson comes off the staggered double and attracts the attention of two defenders. First, he has his primary defender chasing on his hip. Then, a secondary defender steps up aggressively to take away the catch-and-shoot three. That aggressive closeout allows Johnson to immediately beat the secondary defender at the point of attack and get downhill into the paint where he finishes off of two feet with the little floater. These are the types of buckets that will Johnson to continue to become higher percentage from the floor.

Team Thad ran some misdirection on this half court set as Jasper Johnson sprinted into space on the right wing. The long closeout gave Johnson the ability to attack downhill to his left hand towards the paint and the middle of the floor. Here we get a look at the patented running hook shot. It might not seem like the highest percentage shot, but for a thinner guard being able to score in the intermediate range as opposed to all of the way at the rim is valuable. If he can consistently make this shot, you’ll it used by Johnson at Kentucky.

Here is another example of Johnson using the hook shot to create separation away from a taller defender. After running through an Elevator Doors set, Johnson creates a switch and attacks the aggressive closeout. The defender does a good job of keeping Johnson from turning the corner into the paint, but even the size and length advantage isn’t enough to keep him from making the running hook shot. That is a really tough finish.

Scoring at the Rim

Listed at 6’4″ and 170 pounds, Jasper Johnson isn’t exactly a physical guard. What he may lack in the strength category he more than makes up for in quickness, athleticism, and ball skill, but you won’t see him seeking out a ton of contact in the paint. However, due to facing aggressive closeouts, there are opportunities for Johnson to get downhill and drive it all the way to the rim. Then, his athleticism kicks in to help him finish. This may never be a big part of his game at Kentucky, but in order to become more efficient Johnson will need to continue attacking the basket.

Many young prospects that are as athletic as Jasper Johnson have to be taught to play off of two feet at the college level. However, on film, Johnson has shown that he already plays off of two feet pretty consistently. This is a tough drive against a good defender and then an even better finish. Johnson jump stops, shot fakes, pivots, and finishes through contact at the rim. If he had gone up off of one foot there is almost no way he would have converted here. These are the types of plays that will make him a more efficient, higher percentage scorer.

Putting enough pressure on the defense to make them guard you several feet beyond the arc really opens up the driving lanes. That is the impact that Johnson’s shooting has on opposing defenses. His defender is well beyond the arc and ready to start cheating over the top of the ballscreen. However, Johnson quickly rejects the ballscreen and gets downhill to his right hand eventually finishing with an athletic reverse layup. It would be good to see Johnson lean on his athleticism a little more and be more willing to attack the rim while cutting down on a couple higher degree of difficulty shots per game.

Here is another example of Jasper Johnson playing off of two feet at the end of his drive. Once again he rejects a wing ballscreen and gets downhill to his right hand. Drawing the secondary defender, the opposing 5-man, Johnson jump stops and gives a little head fake to get the big man in the air. Then, he simply steps passed him for the left-handed finish. That is great recognition and pacing by Johnson.

Catch-and-Shoot Ability

On a national level, most people think of Jasper Johnson as a shooter. However, his numbers haven’t always backed that up. In 17 games across the EYBL Circuit and Peach Jam he shot just 29-104 (27.9%) from deep. He was much better as a junior at Link Academy and with USA U18 team, but there are some consistently concerns. The best way to put it is, at times, Johnson plays the game with a very high degree of difficultly. Reining that in will really unlock the best parts of his game and allow him to translate as a big-time shooting threat as a freshman in Lexington. Again, it is important to remember that some of these same concerns existed with Rob Dillingham who had an incredibly efficient freshman season at Kentucky.

These are the catch-and-shoot looks that tend to be high percentage for Johnson. When he is in rhythm with his feet set he can be one of the best shooters in the country. Cutting off of the staggered double, Johnson notices his defender going up through which triggers him to flare the screen. Making the proper read and cut elongates the closeout enough for Johnson to set his feet, square his shoulders, and knock in the deep attempt. Johnson’s range puts a lot of pressure on the defense and really stretches the floor.

Sometimes off of the dribble the shot selection can be a bit erratic, but when playing off of the ball he is efficient as a catch-and-shoot threat. After failing to get by his defender initially, Johnson moves the ball and relocates on the wing. His defender helps every so slightly on the middle drive, but it is enough space to allow Johnson to splash the deep attempt. He has the potential to be a “no help” sort of player at Kentucky which would really open up the offense for others.

For a left-handed shooter, making this shot while moving at full speed to your right is not easy. However, Jasper Johnson does a good job of setting his feet and squaring up enough to the basket to knock it in. His speed while running off of what turns into a staggered triple creates the necessary separation for the attempt. Being able to make catch-and-shoot attempts on the move off of screening action will be big at the next level. These are the shots that will make Johnson a NBA prospect.

Johnson is going to be very, very effective in transition at Kentucky. Not only can he lead the break and operate as the primary ball handler, but he can run the floor and stretch the defense with his shooting ability. Having him as an option on the throw ahead really unlocks some fun options. His quick release and unwavering confidence allow him to squeeze off tightly contested shots. This is a shot that translates to the high-major college level.

Jasper Johnson Evaluation

Labeling players as combo guards is vastly overused in scouting, but Jasper Johnson qualifies as well as anyone. He definitely has a score first mentality, but is at his best with the ball in his hands. The 6’4″ left-handed guard creates separation easily and can score in very tight windows. Whether it is a traditional step back or side step, rejecting a ballscreen to attack downhill, or making a combo move he consistently can shake loose of his primary defender.

On or off of the ball, he attracts the attention of two defenders due to his shooting ability. Johnson has “in the gym” range and is never afraid to squeeze off deep attempts. Reigning in the shot selection and playing with a lesser degree of difficult will ultimately improve his efficiency. His shooting ability puts constant pressure on opposing defenses and his knack for scoring and shot-creation will translate early in his collegiate career.