Johnson Named A Finalist For The Gillom Trophy
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Mississippi State guard Diamber Johnson has been named one of three finalists for the Gillom Trophy, an award presented annually to the top women's collegiate basketball player in the state.
The award will be presented Monday, March 5 at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson. Johnson is a finalist along with Ole Miss' Valencia McFarland and Delta State's Veronica Walker.
"Being named a finalist for the Gillom Trophy is a major honor," Johnson said. "There are a lot of great players in this state, so to be selected among the three finalists is a great honor."
Johnson leads Mississippi State this season with a 14.9 scoring average that ranks fourth in the SEC. The Pontotoc native also rates in the top five in the conference in assists with a personal-best 3.8 per game.
Johnson has led MSU in scoring 15 times this season. She has tallied nine 20-point outings, the first player to accomplish the feat since Alexis Rack in 2010, including one 30-point showing.
"We are very proud of Diamber for being selected to represent Mississippi State," MSU head coach Sharon Fanning-Otis said. "She has some great accomplishments this season, and being named a finalist for our state's best player is another tremendous honor."
On February 9, Johnson became the 19th Lady Bulldog to join the 1,000-point club and just the seventh player in school history to tally 1,000 career points and 300 assists.
Johnson opened the year with a career-best 30 points against Jacksonville State, the most points by an MSU player in the opener since former All-America LaToya Thomas scored 48 against Memphis to begin the 2000-01 campaign.
Earlier in the year she posted three-straight games with 20 or more points, a feat last accomplished by another All-American, Tan White, in 2005.
In addition to a career-best 418 points this season, Johnson has also set a new personal standard for steals (48).