Rutgers women’s basketball has a top-ten nationally ranked recruiting class coming next year led by the dynamic Diamond Johnson.
Great guards are part of C. Vivian Stringer’s legacy at Rutgers. Among them were the likes of Tasha Pointer, Cappie Pondexter, Matee Ajavon, Ephiphany Prince, and Tyler Scaife.
Diamond Johnson might be next in line.
She was the Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls Basketball Player of the Year last season where she averaged 28 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals per game. Coach Stringer has referenced her as the best point guard in the country bar none.
Diamond’s scoring ability is prolific at 5-foot-3. She has the raw quickness of a small guard but paired with sheer strength and craftiness. She has excellent stop-and-go ability including a deadly hesitation move, and her floater game is impeccable. She commands her space in the paint and has different ways to evade in tight spaces for finishes, and her trigger from the outside is true.
As told from her stats, Diamond doesn’t just play a scorer’s game. She’s a scoring point guard but doesn’t let that take away from her playmaking. Diamond shows the willingness to draw attention just for the sake of creating an opening for someone else.
She’s also a force on the defensive end. She uses her speed and strength to her advantage for sharp timing on strip steals. In some cases plucking people off the dribble and in others simply ripping the ball out of someone’s hands. Her potential as a high-level on-ball defender at the next level will be interesting. Especially since her college coach’s calling card has always been defense.
Here’s what Diamond said about her commitment to Rutgers:
It was the best fit as far as me becoming a better player and person. It gets no better than learning from a legend and Rutgers are known for their guard play it fits me perfectly. The support system is there and I’m an hour and 15 minutes away from home so lots of support and they have players.
One of the players Rutgers has right now is the Big Ten scoring leader Arella Guirantes. The redshirt junior could opt to play another year in school but she will be eligible to enter the WNBA Draft after this season.
Diamond Johnson’s breed of talent has come through the ranks of Rutgers before, and there’s a confidence that she can be the next gem in line.
