Welcome to Senior Send-Off! This is a series where we highlight the seniors that we covered or watched extensively throughout their senior season. Check out our Instagram to see the graphics and phone backgrounds made for each player. Previous Senior Send-Off pieces are here.
What does she bring?
If we’re being honest here, the real question is what does Diamond Johnson NOT bring? Let’s just start by saying she has the best ball-handling ability amongst both the girls and the boys in her class. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who can go from navigating through an entire defense to flicking the ball up and into the rim as fast as she can. Floaters, euros, hop-steps, reverse lays, she really can finish any way she wants. In terms of accolades, we could be here for weeks listing them all, but here are a few – 2x Gatorade Player of the Year, MVP of the Philadelphia Catholic League, the first-ever girl selected to Iverson Classic, the leading scorer of any gender in Philly Prep history, and first-team All-State. In her senior season, she cashed in averages of 29.7 points, 3.5 assists, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.7 steals per game. Diamond Johnson really has one of the deepest bags in the game.
What can we expect from Rutgers?
Last season, Rutgers was enjoying one of their best seasons in recent history. They finished the year with an overall record of 22-9 and 11-7 in the Big Ten. On top of that, they boasted the number one scorer in the Big Ten and 9th leading scorer in the country, Arella Guirantes. With the number eight ranked recruiting class in the country coming in, C. Vivian Stringer seems to have another window approaching for legitimate national standing and another run in the NCAA Tournament. After getting the news of Arella Guirantes forgoing the WNBA Draft and returning for her senior year, plus Tekia Mack returning as the glue, this Rutgers team has the potential on paper to become a national contender and possibly a favorite in the Big Ten.
Thanks to Martin Soaries with the contribution to Rutgers analysis.
Prediction
We’ve actually already made a bit of a prediction on Diamond Johnson. She’s going to be a bonafide star at the next level. We’re talking about a player who’s already leagues above where most of her class that now gets to learn from one of the greatest coaches in basketball history. As Cappie Pondexter once did, Diamond Johnson is going to bring fireworks and excitement as she travels across the bridge from Philly to Jersey.
