After blazing through three major college basketball programs and collecting an impressive array of awards along the way, Diamond Johnson is preparing for her biggest leap yet: the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The Norfolk State star and Philadelphia native has made a name for herself as one of the most dynamic and determined guards in the college game. From Rutgers to NC State to Norfolk State, Johnson left her mark in every locker room, gym, and stat sheet she touched.
Now, she’s hoping to become the first Norfolk State player—and the first from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in over two decades—to hear her name called in the WNBA Draft on April 14.
“I did things [at Norfolk State] that I haven’t done in my whole college career – or any other school – that I did here, and I’m definitely proud of that,” Johnson told Andscape. “Here you just gotta go get it.”
A Career of Firsts and Fierceness
Johnson’s college career reads like a masterclass in adaptation and excellence. She was All-Big Ten Second Team and Big Ten All-Freshman Team at Rutgers. At NC State, she was named ACC Sixth Player of the Year and earned All-ACC Second Team honors. At Norfolk State, she elevated even further—winning MEAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in back-to-back seasons.
But despite her accolades, Johnson has watched her projected draft position slip since transferring to Norfolk State—an HBCU often overlooked in WNBA scouting circles.
Former head coach Larry Vickers doesn’t understand it.
“I’ve watched her go from seventh in the first round when she got to me and [she] dropped and dropped,” Vickers said. “And I don’t know why.”
A Scout-Ready Statement in Tampa
At the Lilly Women’s College All-Star Game in Tampa during the Final Four, Johnson put on a clinic. She scored 21 points on 9-of-13 shooting and drilled the game-winning three-pointer, earning MVP honors in front of WNBA scouts.
She also played in the inaugural HBCU Women’s All-Star Game, where she was reunited with Yolanda Laney, a former NCAA national championship finalist with Cheyney State and one of Johnson’s earliest coaches.
“Don’t look at Diamond because of her height and her size, look at her because of her talent,” Laney said. “Diamond shines all the time, whether she’s scoring or not, just from the things that she does on the court.”
Size Doesn’t Matter When the Game Is That Big
Standing at just 5-foot-5, Johnson is proof that size doesn’t define greatness. She finished top five in total rebounds in the MEAC this season—a category dominated by players 6 feet and taller.
“I want to be down there with the big girls. I want to box them out. I want to be aggressive. Like, that’s the type of player that I am,” Johnson said. “I don’t care if you’re 6 foot, I’m still gonna go at you.”
Norfolk State associate head coach Trinese Fox said Johnson’s transformation was more than just physical.
“She’s the hardest worker that I’ve seen in a long time,” Fox said. “She takes everything serious. So when we say she’s a pro, it’s not just on-the-court skill set, like, that’s the way she walks it, she talks it.”
Fox and Johnson worked together to increase Johnson’s field goal percentage from 43.3% to 47%, and they succeeded in raising her overall production across the board—points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
A Moment That Could Change the Game for HBCUs
If drafted, Johnson would be the first MEAC player selected since Howard University’s Andrea Gardner in 2002.
“To be able to hear Diamond’s name called during the draft would be such a moment of immense pride,” said Norfolk State teammate Niya Fields. “Not only would hearing her name highlight her talent, but it would also highlight NSU women’s basketball and every HBCU women’s basketball program.”
Despite the lack of buzz in mock drafts, Johnson remains focused on what she can control: her work ethic, her leadership, and her love for the game.
“Whatever you need me to do, I can do it,” Johnson said. “Throughout my years of college, I think I’ve kind of shown that.”
With her tenacity, talent, and the backing of an entire HBCU community, Diamond Johnson is betting on herself. Now, it’s up to the WNBA to decide whether they’ll take the shot, or miss out on a generational playmaker who refuses to be overlooked.
