Diamond Johnson
No. 3 – Norfolk State Spartans
PositionPoint guard
LeagueMid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Personal information
Born (2002-04-15) April 15, 2002
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Career information
High school
College
Career highlights and awards
  • ACC Sixth Player of the Year (2022)
  • Second-team All-ACC (2023)
  • Second-team All-Big Ten (2021)
  • Big Ten All-Freshman Team (2021)
Medals
Women's basketball
Representing the  United States
FIBA Under-19 World Cup
Gold medal – first place2021 HungaryTeam

Diamond Johnson (born April 15, 2002) is an American college basketball player for the Norfolk State Spartans of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). She previously played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the NC State Wolfpack.

Early life

Johnson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[1] to James Johnson and Dana Brooks, and was named after Diamond Street next to her family's neighborhood in North Philadelphia. At age 11, Johnson moved to Hampton, Virginia because her mother wanted her to live in a safer environment.[2] Shortly after moving, she started playing organized basketball after attending tryouts for the Boo Williams Summer League, mistakenly thinking they were for a recreational league, and received an invitation to the league's Black Widows program. Johnson was coached by Black Widows director Reggie Williams for three years until starting high school.[3]

High school career

Johnson began her high school career at Phoebus High School in Hampton. As a freshman, she averaged 29.6 points, 4.5 steals, 4.4 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game, and was named Daily Press Player of the Year.[3] Johnson was averaging 33.1 points per game for Phoebus as a sophomore before transferring to Saints John Neumann and Maria Goretti Catholic High School in Philadelphia during the season. She made the decision in part to be closer to her bedridden father.[4] Johnson was ruled eligible prior to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Class 3A state tournament and led Neumann-Goretti to its fourth straight state title.[5][6]

As a junior, she scored a career-high 54 points in an 88–79 win over Imhotep Institute Charter High School at the Class 3A city championship.[7] Johnson finished the season with averages of 28.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and four steals per game, and was named Philadelphia Catholic League Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year.[8] As a senior, Johnson averaged 29.9 points, six rebounds and five steals per game,[9] repeating as Catholic League MVP and Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year.[10] Despite her success in high school, Johnson was excluded from the 2020 McDonald's All-American Game, a decision that was widely criticized in her hometown.[2][11] She was named to the Jordan Brand Classic. Johnson was personally invited by Allen Iverson to play in the Roundball Classic, becoming the first woman to be selected to a men's high school All-America game.[12] However, both games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13]

Recruiting

Johnson was considered a five-star recruit and sixth-best player in the 2020 high school class by ESPN.[14] On November 16, 2019, she committed to playing college basketball for Rutgers, who had offered her a scholarship during her freshman year of high school, over offers from NC State and South Carolina.[14][15]

College career

On February 17, 2021, Johnson scored a freshman season-high 26 points for Rutgers in an 83–56 win against Minnesota.[16] At the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals, she scored 26 points for a second time, while adding eight rebounds and five steals in a 73–62 loss to Iowa.[17] As a freshman, she averaged 17.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game, earning second-team All-Big Ten and All-Freshman Team recognition.[18] For her sophomore season, Johnson transferred to NC State.[19] She came off the bench for one of the top teams in the nation, but was still among its most productive players. Johnson was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Sixth Player of the Year and received All-ACC Honorable Mention from the league's Blue Ribbon Panel.[20] As a junior, she averaged 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game and was limited to 22 games due to an ankle injury. Johnson was named second-team All-ACC. For her senior season, she transferred to Norfolk State.[21]

National team career

Johnson played for the United States women's national under-19 basketball team at the 2021 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Debrecen, Hungary. She averaged 12.6 points, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game, helping her team win the gold medal with a 7–0 record. Johnson scored 15 points in a 70–52 victory over Australia in the title game.[22]

Personal life

Johnson's father, James, died in December 2018 due to complications from stroke and other health issues.[15] She dedicates each of her basketball games to him.[23]

References

  1. ↑ O'Brien, Marty (February 7, 2018). "Phoebus hoops star Diamond Johnson transfers to private school". Daily Press. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Abrams, Jonathan (January 3, 2022). "'Fuel to Her Fire': A Rising Basketball Star Thrives When You Doubt Her". The New York Times. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Yanchulis, Kate (April 8, 2017). "Phoebus freshman Diamond Johnson sparkles in first season". Daily Press. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ Villa, Walter (July 12, 2018). "Women's basketball prospect Diamond Johnson shares her moving and controversial story". ESPN. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ Harlan, Chris (March 26, 2018). "Bishop Canevin girls fall to Neumann-Goretti in PIAA title game for 2nd straight season". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  6. ↑ Madalinsky, Jim (March 23, 2018). "Championship controversy: Late-season addition adds new challenge for Bishop Canevin". WTAE-TV. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  7. ↑ Hunt, Donald (March 7, 2019). "Neumann-Goretti basketball star Diamond Johnson still glowing after 54-point performance". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  8. ↑ Hunt, Donald (March 11, 2019). "N-G star Diamond Johnson named Gatorade Pa. Girls Basketball Player of the Year". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Diamond Johnson". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  10. ↑ Flanagan, Rich (June 24, 2020). "Girls Basketball: Neumann-Goretti's Johnson Shined Like A Diamond". Philadelphia Sports Digest. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  11. ↑ Jensen, Mike (February 1, 2020). "Diamond Johnson's McDonald's All-American snub a diss to all of Philly". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Diamond Johnson First Woman Selected to Men's All-American Game at Iverson Classic 24K Showcase". Rutgers University Athletics. March 2, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  13. ↑ Jensen, Mike (July 23, 2020). "Pandemic kept Diamond Johnson from playing in Iverson Game, among other things". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  14. 1 2 "Diamond Johnson 2020 High School Girls' Basketball Profile". ESPN. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  15. 1 2 Carter, Aaron (November 16, 2019). "Basketball recruiting: Neumann Goretti guard Diamond Johnson surprises some and commits to Rutgers". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  16. ↑ Breitman, Aaron (February 18, 2021). "Diamond Johnson shoots Rutgers to fourth straight victory". On the Banks. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Iowa ousts No. 19 Rutgers women from Big Ten tourney 73-62". USA Today. Associated Press. March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  18. ↑ Tucker, Tristan (October 26, 2021). "Diamond Johnson: the crown jewel of Pack women's basketball additions". Technician. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Wolfpack women adding Rutgers transfer Diamond Johnson". USA Today. Associated Press. April 9, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Wolfpack Women's Hoops Collects ACC Honors Following Historic Regular Season". NC State University Athletics. March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  21. ↑ Philippou, Alexa (May 23, 2023). "Diamond Johnson transferring to Norfolk State from NC State". ESPN. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Johnson, USA U19 Women Take Home Gold at 2021 World Cup". NC State University Athletics. August 15, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  23. ↑ Zimmaro, Mark (December 31, 2019). "Neumann-Goretti's Diamond Johnson is a humble superstar". South Philly Review. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
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