Jasper Johnson and Tyran Stokes Make First Team USA U19 Cut as Malachi Moreno Exits: Will Johnson Secure a Final Roster Spot?
The race to represent the United States at the FIBA U19 World Cup is heating up—and two high-profile prospects with deep Kentucky ties are still in the hunt.
Jasper Johnson, the electrifying five-star guard and future Kentucky Wildcat, has successfully advanced through the first round of cuts at the Team USA U19 training camp in Colorado Springs. The original pool of 32 elite high school and college players has now been trimmed to 18, and Johnson has secured his spot among the nation’s best young talents.
Unfortunately for fellow Wildcat Malachi Moreno, the journey has ended early. The talented big man did not make the cut and will be heading back to Lexington to rejoin Coach Mark Pope’s squad for summer workouts.
But all eyes are now on Johnson. Can he make the final 12-man Team USA U19 roster set to be announced on June 21?
A Strong Start, But the Grind Continues
Johnson’s inclusion in the Top 18 is no surprise to those who have followed his rise. The 6-foot-4 scoring machine has drawn attention not just for his shooting stroke and explosiveness, but also for his basketball IQ and versatility. Being handpicked to continue in the highly competitive Team USA camp speaks volumes about how Johnson is perceived on the national stage.
Johnson and Moreno were both accompanied to the training camp by Kentucky head coach Mark Pope, who is serving as an on-court assistant for Team USA. That connection has undoubtedly helped Johnson settle into the rigorous camp atmosphere while also gaining exposure to high-level international preparation.
As the roster continues to narrow, Johnson will need to keep impressing the coaching staff to earn one of those coveted 12 spots. The final team will represent the USA at the 2025 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, which is set to take place from June 28 to July 6.
What About the Impact on Kentucky?
The FIBA U19 World Cup falls during a critical summer period for most college programs, but Johnson’s potential absence from team workouts is not expected to derail his readiness for the 2025–26 college basketball season.
In fact, being part of Team USA’s global campaign could serve as an advanced preseason experience—challenging Johnson to compete against international talent, adjust to physical play, and grow his leadership on and off the court.
Coach Pope will no doubt be watching closely. A player who can thrive on the international stage is exactly the kind of competitor Kentucky will be relying on as the Wildcats look to rebound in Pope’s first full season at the helm.
Bluegrass Still Well-Represented
Johnson isn’t the only Kentucky-connected name still standing.
Tyran Stokes, the dynamic 2026 forward and bluegrass native, also made the first cut. Stokes, who was recently spotted on Kentucky’s campus, continues to build buzz as one of the top players in the 2026 recruiting class.
Other standouts who advanced alongside Johnson and Stokes include Jason Crowe Jr. and Christian Collins—both of whom are heavily on Kentucky’s recruiting radar. While the U19 camp is a national team initiative, it also acts as a spotlight event for top-tier recruiting, giving schools like Kentucky a major edge in scouting and connections.
Will Johnson Make the Final Roster?
That’s the question buzzing across Big Blue Nation (BBN) and college basketball circles.
Johnson has shown he belongs, but the final decision will come down to how he performs in the next few intense days of scrimmages, drills, and team evaluations. If selected, he’ll have a chance to represent his country—and enter his freshman year at Kentucky as a battle-tested leader.
For now, the wait continues. But one thing is clear: Jasper Johnson is a name you’ll want to remember.
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