There were quite a few questions going through the minds of Kentucky basketball fans when Jasper Johnson picked up his phone to order a box of Donato’s pizza.
“Is the Pep 150 going to reveal he’s going to Kentucky?”
“Wait, there isn’t any pizza in the box? What a rip-off.”
“There’s a jersey in there? I guess Pope is bringing those uniforms back. That rocks.”
“No. 30? That’s a weird number for a shooting guard.”
Unfortunately, that jersey reveal was not a tease of throwback uniforms coming to Rupp Arena this fall (although that era of uniforms in the late 90s through Tubby Smith’s tenure are a personal favorite). The No. 30 jersey served as an homage to his past as he takes the next step in his career.
The jersey pulled out of the pizza box was his father’s, Dennis Johnson. Even though most remember him as the dominant defender responsible for the Kentucky single-season sack record, Dennis Johnson was also a prep standout on the hardwood. After terrorizing opponents in the fall, he combined for more than 4,000 career points and rebounds in high school hoops.
“The reason he selected Kentucky was because they told him he could play both sports,” Alvis Johnson told Mike Fields in a 2016 interview. “But after (Dennis’ freshman) football season, Hal (Mumme) told a different story. Tubby (Smith) was very disappointed they wouldn’t let him play basketball. He needed some bangers inside and he thought Dennis could be one of those guys.”
Even though he never suited up for Tubby Smith, Bill Keightley gave Dennis the No. 30 jersey and embroidered travel bag they had prepared for Dennis.
Dennis Johnson never got to put that jersey to good use until today. Now his son will be following in his footsteps at the University of Kentucky.
Even though there was an opportunity for his son to be a third-generation Kentucky Wildcat, Dennis Johnson did not push his son to play for the home state school. The family was sold on Mark Pope’s plan for the five-star shooting guard.
“We’re happy. Pope and I have talked a few times. Love the staff, how they play offense, and he’s a very positive guy, so I’m excited for the Big Blue,” Dennis told KSR after the announcement.”
We have plenty of coverage from Jasper’s commitment, but if you aren’t already aware, his high school accolades are incomparable to his father’s. They had to create a rule forbidding elementary school students from playing high school football because of Dennis Johnson. Here’s a brief snapshot of his Paul Bunyan-like prep career.
