JUST REVEIWED: He talks about how Mark Pope persuaded him to move to Kentucky.

The Kentucky Wildcats scored a huge recruiting victory Thursday, adding 5-star prospect Jasper Johnson to their roster for next season.

Almost every program in the country was interested in recruiting the Overtime Elite guard. 247 Sports ranked him as the class of 2025’s second-best shooting guard. Alabama and North Carolina were the primary candidates for Johnson.

Fortunately, Johnson chose Kentucky, thanks in large part to Mark Pope’s unwavering focus during the recruitment process, as well as Pope’s statement that he was born to coach Johnson.

“Coach Pope always tells me he feels like he was born to coach me,” Johnson stated at his commitment ceremony. “Hearing him say that, and the level of commitment he showed me in just a few months, means a lot to me.” I cannot wait to get started. I know they’ll have a plan for me, but for the time being, we’re simply focusing on developing our friendship.”

With a squad primarily made up of transfer players this season, Pope should have prioritized maintaining its reputation as an exceptional recruiting school, which it certainly did.

The Cats will benefit greatly from Johnson teaming up with 4-star center and Kentucky pledge Malachi Moreno. The wider picture is that Pope continues to keep Kentucky-born talent from going elsewhere to play collegiate hoops.

Pope has impressed as a recruiter. Now, let’s hope he puts on a show like Kentucky’s head coach in a few months.