UNC Basketball Recruit Not Planning to Reclassify, at Least for Now

Chances are UNC basketball lands in Jasper Johnson's top 10 early next year.
Photo credit: Katie Goodale-USA TODAY Sports

On Monday, at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., Link Academy (Mo.) guard and 2025 UNC basketball target Jasper Johnson updated his recruitment during his chat with Rivals' Rob Cassidy. He addressed the reclassification option and his plans to announce finalists soon.

According to Cassidy, the 6-foot-4, 170-pound smooth five-star, who ranks No. 12 overall on the 247Sports 2025 Composite and routinely displays his NBA range from three, said that "he intends to stay in the 2025 class as things stand."

In other words, Johnson probably won't make the move to 2024. But it still doesn't sound like the 17-year-old prospect has completely ruled it out.

As for shortening his list of roughly two dozen suitors, Johnson informed Cassidy that he's eyeing the release of his top 10 "early next year."

Despite growing up in Lexington, Ky., Johnson has noted in several past interviews that he was a UNC basketball fan as a kid. Moreover, one of his Link Academy teammates, four-star center James Brown, is a 2024 Tar Heel signee.

Nevertheless, none of his visits to date (West Virginia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Missouri) were to Chapel Hill.

Jasper Johnson, a UNC offer holder since September, is one of nine on the Tar Heels' 2025 wishlist. All of those targets are composite five-star talents boasting top-20 rankings and remain undecided in the recruitments.

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


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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.