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NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Diamond Johnson was all smiles, even after an extended apply that concerned tons and many working — up and down the courtroom at Echols Corridor, and even up and down the steps of the 4,500-seat enviornment as a result of coach Larry Vickers thought focus was missing.
“I feel I discovered the place for me,” she stated earlier than hopping on an train bike for an additional 20 minutes of labor.
She is much from the one one excited. Vickers, who stated he dances every time a recruit commits to the Spartans, stated “it was an extended music” when that participant was Johnson.
The Spartans can be Johnson’s third crew in 4 years, and convey her again to the world the place her love of basketball blossomed, making her one of many high recruits within the 2020 class.
She began at Rutgers and was voted second crew All-Large Ten as a freshman after averaging 17.6 factors. She transferred to North Carolina State and was the ACC Sixth Participant of the 12 months as a sophomore, then led the Wolfpack in scoring final season (12.3 factors per sport) and made the All-ACC second crew. The purpose guard, as adept at wraparound passes as she is scoring, was on participant of the yr watch lists.
It’s uncommon {that a} participant with a raft of accolades {and professional} aspirations leaves a Energy 5 college for an HBCU or actually any college at a decrease stage, however as Johnson stated in asserting her resolution — and as Vickers say he confirmed with scouts — enjoying for Norfolk State is unlikely to negatively influence her professional dream.
The Spartans are coming off their greatest season since stepping as much as Division I in 1997. They went 26-7, gained the Mid-Japanese Athletic Convention common season and event titles. They drew No. 1 seed and defending nationwide champion South Carolina within the NCAA Match, shedding 72-40. Afterward, Gamecocks coach Staley stated the crew that led the nation in scoring protection (50.7 ppg) and field-goal share protection (31.5) mustn’t have been a No. 16 seed.
That’s common for a crew from the MEAC, however Johnson was undaunted: “These colleges truly match my type. I see the gamers getting higher. They’ll coach. I’m mainly from Virginia, too. Been right here since I used to be in fifth, sixth grade. That is the place I began enjoying.”
Vickers, getting into in his eighth full season, knew Johnson from her AAU days and received to know her higher when Johnson would come work out on the college in the course of the COVID-19 shutdown.
When she expressed an curiosity within the Spartans, he didn’t let his want for her to fill a void within the lineup supercede his want to ensure she knew some issues could be completely different.
“I used to be sort of just a little essential of her sport in some points, and I don’t assume she was anticipating that,” he stated. “I feel she was anticipating me to say ‘you could possibly come right here and shoot the ball each time’ and that’s simply not the sort of particular person I’m. So I felt like she felt like she may get higher right here in addition to, , get us out of the primary spherical. And I do know that’s a objective of hers.”
The Spartans have a number of different transfers from higher-profile applications. Graduate scholar ahead Paris Mullins got here from McNeese State after beginning at Auburn. Junior guard Da’Naijah Williams got here from St. John’s. Graduate scholar guard/ahead Danielle Robinson got here from Seton Corridor. Redshirt freshman ahead Skye Robinson spent a yr at VCU.
All of them hear the identical factor after they meet with Vickers.
“The very first thing I inform them is, ‘Hey. We don’t fly personal. If it’s beneath 400 miles, we’re getting on that bus,’” he stated, laughing. Johnson’s response? “I don’t even wish to fly,” she stated.
The crew is thrilled to have her. Two of their high three scorers final yr have been graduate college students, so including a participant with Johnson’s resume was essential to constructing on final season’s success.
Kierra Wheeler, the highest returning scorer and low publish presence, figures to learn lots from Johnson’s capacity to drive and thread passes by way of the center for simple baskets. She averaged 11.1 factors and eight.4 rebounds and stated she’s misplaced almost 40 kilos to get higher.
“Having Diamond coming in is definitely superb. We by no means had that earlier than, however I feel that opens up the world to actually the MEAC and exhibiting them what we convey to the desk,” Wheeler stated.
And all of the working in apply? Greater than something, it will possibly solely assist defensively.
“After all we’re drained,” stated Wheeler. “However each different crew is drained within the nation, so we’ve received to separate ourselves.”
Williams has grow to be an enormous fan of the defensive focus, and outcomes, particularly late in video games.
“Simply hold pushing at their throats,” she stated. “That’s all the time going to be the nice a part of being conditioned. In the event that they get drained, they’re going to need to pay in the long run.”
And maybe, if all goes properly, they’ll get a diamond of their championship rings.
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