By Jarrett Hoffman
(Source: HBCU)
Norfolk State dynamic guard Diamond Johnson is making the jump to the pros after announcing her intentions to enter the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Johnson entered the college ranks as a member of the 2020 high school recruiting class that also featured Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and Angel Reese.
As the sixth-ranked recruit in the class, Johnson spent her first collegiate season at Rutgers where former Cheyney University national championship head coach Vivian Stringer coached her.
The Philadelphia native then transferred to North Carolina State, playing two seasons there before moving to Norfolk State in 2023.
After missing the first 10 games of the 2023-2024 season due to an eligibility dispute, Johnson made an instant impact for the Spartans, helping lead them to their second straight MEAC regular season title.
She averaged 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 steals in 23 games and was named to the All-MEAC First Team and the All-MEAC Defensive Team.
After what will be her last game at Norfolk State, Spartans coach Larry Vickers gave star player Diamond Johnson her flowers for everything she meant to the program.
Johnson then led Norfolk State to its second straight conference championship, winning the Tournament MVP on 20.3 points per game, 7.0 rebounds per game, and 3.0 steals per game.
This past season, the former ACC recruit claimed the MEAC Player of the Year award after leading the Spartans to their first 30-win season since moving to Division I.
She led the conference in scoring (18.9) and steals (3.6) while finishing second in assists (4.1).
Another strong performance in the MEAC tournament, in which she compiled 17.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.0 steals, lifted the Spartans to their third straight conference title.
Norfolk State received the 13th seed in the Birmingham region of the NCAA tournament, marking the best seeding any HBCU (men or women) has received in the Division I tournament since 2014.
Though Norfolk State fell short in an 82-69 loss to Maryland, Johnson went down swinging with 18 points, six rebounds, and three steals.
Johnson is looking to become the first MEAC player to be selected in the WNBA Draft since 2002 and just the third HBCU guard to ever be picked.
