Prospect Spotlight: Jasper Gibson (2020)
Not too many have heard of Jasper Gibson outside of small-town Jefferson, Georgia, but he is a name worth keeping on the radar. The 6’2 sophomore is currently averaging 21 points, 4 assists and 3 steals while shooting 41 percent from three-point range. Earlier in the season, he exploded for 41 points against Stephens County (GA), including a 23-point first quarter performance. Gibson is an all-around point guard who strikes fear in opponents with his deep three-point shooting and playmaking ability. His quick release on his jump shot separates him from other guards and allows him to pull the trigger at any given moment.
Last year as a freshman, Gibson garnered all-region and all-area honors and was also named Freshman of the Year in North Georgia, according to the Athens Banner Herald. He expects to receive many of the same accolades this year as well. When asked about his early success, Gibson answered: “It has always been a goal of mine to play as an underclassman. It has not been a big adjustment. I always played a high level of travel ball, so the transition was not very difficult.”
I first saw Gibson playing with Southern Stampede last summer at the Nike Memorial Day Classic EYBL tournament. He impressed me not only with his ability to make shots, but also with his crafty ball handling and basketball IQ. He says, “I consider myself a floor general that can score if I want and someone that gets everyone involved. I’m a do-it-all type of guard.” Gibson surely is a do-it-all type of guard, on and off the court, as he boasts a 3.62 GPA and also ranks in the top 20 percent of his class. He claims no current offers but says that Furman, VMI, East Tennessee State, and division 2 schools such as North Georgia are all showing interest. He plans to attend East Tennessee State’s elite camp in August.
Gibson believes his team has what it takes to win it all as the region tournament approaches. “Our goal is to win the region tournament and make a run at state,” he says. “We’re sitting at 2nd behind St. Pius so if we continue playing well, we should see them again in the region championship.” After two lopsided losses against St. Pius, Gibson is not worried. “I handle pressure very well,” he says. So far, Gibson has handled early pressure just fine and has established himself as a player worth mentioning in the highly touted 4A Class.