Jalen Johnson has been linked to Duke for some time by recruiting experts but the five star forward denied those rumors to Kentucky.com at the NBPA Top 100 Camp.
Earlier in the spring, Johnson said he hoped to make a college decision sometime around the Nike Peach Jam event in mid-July, but he didn’t commit to that timetable Thursday.
“I’m really trying to just embrace it and enjoy it and make sure I make the right decision at the end,” Johnson said.
A delayed decision — if it does happen — might end up being good news for Kentucky.
Duke is seen by recruiting experts as the overwhelming favorite in Johnson’s recruitment, with 247Sports Crystal Ball and Rivals.com FutureCast predictions coming in favor of the Blue Devils from such national analysts as Eric Bossi, Evan Daniels, Corey Evans, Jerry Meyer and Andrew Slater, as well as some recruiting experts from Johnson’s home state of Wisconsin.
Johnson maintains he doesn’t have a favorite.
“I see it. I don’t really pay attention to that though,” he said. “Because no one knows what’s going on in my mind. I know what’s going on. People can make assumptions on what they think. But, at the end of the day, I’m the one that knows, and I’m the one that’s going to make the decision.”
Johnson said he also doesn’t know the source of all this Duke buzz.
“I have no clue, to be honest,” he said. “I don’t show any favoritism, at least that I think. As far as (social media) posts and stuff, I feel like I show the equal amount of love. … So I don’t know where that came from.”
Read “Experts peg Duke as the favorite for top UK basketball target. He says it’s not over yet.” by clicking here.
Watch his interview at the NBPA Top 100 below:
