By Roger Chesley
Norfolk State University sharpshooter Diamond Johnson elevated her draft stock for the WNBA with a stellar performance at the Women’s College All-Star Game over the weekend – and may have forced professional teams to give a second look to basketball players at historically Black colleges and universities.
Johnson earned the Most Valuable Player award with a stat line of 21 points, four rebounds and two steals in her team’s 71-59 victory. She shot an impressive 9 for 13 from the field. Cheryl Miller, who’s basketball royalty, coached her team.
The game in Florida featured stars from major programs including the Southeastern, Atlantic Coast and Big 10 conferences. It aired live on ESPN2, and Johnson received a chain basketball hoop as part of her award.
“The opportunity was given to us to showcase our talent to see what we can do on and off the court,” Johnson told All-Star game organizers after her MVP performance. “I am just so grateful for this. So grateful.”
She’s a Philadelphia native, but she has several ties to the commonwealth. Johnson started high school in Hampton and played in the well-known Boo Williams Summer League. In what’s become common in the current college landscape, she previously attended Rutgers and North Carolina State before coming to mid-major NSU in the 2023-24 academic year.
The 5-foot-5 graduate student was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the year this season, and she led her team to the NCAA tournament. She also excelled in the classroom, landing on the conference’s All-Academic Team.
A published report says only seven HBCU players have been drafted by the WNBA since its inaugural season in 1997. I attribute that to the high-level competition in the major conferences, as well as the size and skills of those players. (NSU Assistant Director of Sports Communications Noah Schlekeway told me just 14 Spartans have gone on to play in the NBA.)
Johnson, though, has a legitimate shot at becoming the eighth selected from an HBCU at the April 14 draft. At the very least, she’s expanded her opportunities with leagues overseas.
Her televised MVP performance on Saturday ensured it, while also lifting up NSU and other HBCUs in the process.
