UNC Basketball: Potential Reclass Candidate Was Tar Heel Fan as a Kid

The age and talent of UNC basketball's most recent 2025 target suggest a potential reclassification.

Photo credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports

Jasper Johnson, who ranks No. 12 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite and became an official UNC basketball recruiting target earlier this week, hasn't scheduled an official visit with the Tar Heels yet. But as he implied in a chat with 247Sports after reporting the offer out of Chapel Hill, it's probably only a matter of time until he does.

After all, despite his Kentucky roots — he grew up near Lexington as the son of a late-1990s star defensive end for the Wildcats in Dennis Johnson — the 6-foot-4, 170-pound five-star guard insists he has long rooted for UNC.

"Nah, they don't have an edge," Johnson, who transferred to Link Academy (Mo.) this summer, explained to 247Sports about his suitors in Lexington. "I'm honestly open to anybody. I really grew up a UNC fan, but as the recruitment process is starting to happen, I have to stay open to everybody so I can make the best decision for myself."

This weekend, Jasper Johnson is checking out West Virginia, the first official visit in his recruitment. Then he'll head to Georgia Tech next weekend. Thus far, those are the only reported trips on the slick-scoring perimeter weapon's calendar, and he has neither named finalists nor given a timeline for his decision.

Let it ✈️ pic.twitter.com/qlVPUG5bfc

— Jasper Johnson (@BruhJasperJ) September 12, 2023

He is one of eight high school juniors holding an offer from the Tar Heels. All eight boast top-20 composite rankings.

However, some insiders have opined that Johnson could move to the 2024 class. That might make sense, given he turned 17 in March and would be 19 by the time he arrived in college and 20 by the end of his freshman season if he stayed put in 2025.

Last week, Rivals' Rob Cassidy noted another reason Johnson might explore that option:

"Which class Johnson lands in may have a little to do with which school emerges as the leader to land his services, but most of that is speculation at this point. Physically, Johnson seems suited for a reclassification, so such a move shouldn't hurt the 6-foot-4 guard's longterm development. Add in the fact that he was one of the summer's most impactful players, and the recipe for a reclass seems to be present."

UNC basketball's 2024 haul consists of three heralded talents in five-star guard Ian Jackson, five-star forward Drake Powell, and four-star center James Brown, Johnson's teammate at Link Academy.

Meanwhile, there's reason to believe Hubert Davis and his gang may target another 2024 guard should they come up empty in the Boogie Fland sweepstakes, which seems increasingly likely.

Perhaps they had that in mind when entering battle for Jasper Johnson. 

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC basketball recruiting news.