Kalispell to California: Flathead senior commits to play basketball at Sacramento St.
Flathead senior Tiana Johnson has committed to play basketball at Sacramento State, the school announced Monday. Johnson will officially sign a National Letter of Intent today, the first day of the early signing period for NCAA Division I programs.
Johnson, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 14.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last season for the Bravettes, both top 10 marks in Class AA. Johnson isn’t just a presence in the paint, showing her offensive versatility last season, making more 3-point shots per game than any other girl in the class while shooting 39 percent from deep.
“When I made my commitment it was like a whole weight came off my shoulders,” Johnson said.
She will be joining a Sacramento State squad that finished last season 10-8 in the Big Sky Conference and 14-17 overall under third-year coach Bunky Harkleroad. The Hornets have been picked to finish seventh in the Big Sky this season in both the coaches and media preseason polls.
The Hornets play an exciting brand of basketball in which Johnson’s versatility will come in handy.
Sacramento State led Division I in 3-pointers made, steals, offensive rebounds and turnovers forced per game last season, finishing second to only national champion Connecticut in points per game, with an average score of 87.5 points in 2015-16.
Sacramento State broke the NCAA record for 3-pointers made in a game twice last season, twice making 25 3s in a game last season. No other team had ever made more than 22 3-pointers in a game. Sac State made 20 or more 3s four times last season.
The Hornets will graduate five seniors after this season, three of them forwards, leaving room if they need Johnson to play early in her career.
“The coaches really seem into what they’re doing,” Johnson said. “They’re really nice and they seem to have a good goal of where they want their team to be in for conference play.”
Johnson also received offers from Utah Valley, Fairleigh Dickinson and Lehigh and Division II schools Western Washington and Dixie State. She chose Sac State for its academic programs and its spot in the Big Sky Conference, where it makes two trips to Montana every year. Johnson will seek a degree in nutrition and personal training.
“That was a benefit, so I can come back to Montana a few times,” Johnson said. “It’s easy for my parents to get there (to see games). That’s definitely a bonus.”
Johnson will lead an experienced Flathead squad that graduated just two seniors from last season. They will operate under new head coach Tricia Dean.
“She’s worked her butt off,” Dean said. “Everything she’s accomplished so far, she’s had to work for it. I’m excited to see what she’ll do there but I’m more excited, of course, to see what she’ll do for us this year at Flathead.
“She can play anywhere on the floor. We’ll use her in various spots around the floor and I think she’ll be able to adapt to all those different positions.”
Flathead will start its basketball season at home on Dec. 3 against Whitefish.
“We definitely have a lot of experience,” Dean said. “We have some good leaders that are emerging. As long as they keep working hard and their attitudes stay positive, I think we can see some major growth and some good things this year.”