By LARRY VAUGHT
(LEXINGTON, Ky.)-Coach Mark Pope believes that freshman Jasper Johnson was the “most dangerous scorer” in high school basketball last season and is counting on his 3-point range and shot creativity to help UK this season. However, Johnson knows it is not all about offense.
“Your whole life you play a role, whether you know that or whether you don’t. I know a lot of my role now is to score the ball. But first things first, I have to defend,” the 6-foot-4 freshman said. “No matter where you play, your main role is to defend, guard the ball, guard your yard, things like that.
“That’s what I’m really trying to work on and focus on right now, watching film, getting extra reps with guarding the ball. I know if I get acclimated to that, everything else will take care of itself.”
Johnson joined his UK teammates a bit late this summer because he won a gold medal with USA Basketball. A minor ankle injury playing for USA made his transition to college defense more “challenging” but he knows adjusting and showing he can play defense has to be a priority.
“The only thing I’m really trying to adjust to now is the physicality and learning all the new terminologies in our system,” Johnson said. “I know coach Pope wants us to be precise with our answers and be quick thinkers. That’s really the main focus right now.”
Johnson also likes the way that Braydon Hawthorne, another slender freshman, is handling the physical play on both ends.
“He’s been learning, adjusting to the physicality. He’s an elite player on both ends of the floor. He uses athleticism and his length to contest shots. I know everything’s coming to him fast, just like the rest of us, but he’s definitely progressing,” Johnson said.
Pope praised Hawthorne’s “ankle mobility” at his summer press conference and explained how that helps him cut and move easily.
Hawthorne said no one had ever praised his “ankle mobility” before.
“They said my ankles are just, I guess good,” Hawthorne said. “I guess I can move really well for my size, that’s what allows me to move my ankles.”
PHOTO: (Courtesy of USA Basketball)