Amanda Johnson

Last updated

Amanda Johnson
No. 11–Northside Wizards
Position Forward
League NBL1 North
Personal information
Born (1990-08-21) 21 August 1990 (age 34)
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Career information
High school Maria Carrillo
(Santa Rosa, California)
College Oregon (2008–2012)
WNBA draft 2012: 3rd round, 33rd overall pick
Selected by the Phoenix Mercury
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012–2013 WBC Dunav Ruse
2013–2014Fizzy Riva Basket
2018–2019 Ipswich Force
2018–2019 Sydney Uni Flames
2021South West Metro Pirates
2023–present Northside Wizards
Career highlights and awards

Amanda "AJ" Johnson (born April 21, 1990) is an American professional basketball player for the Northside Wizards of the NBL1 North. She played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks before being drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2012 WNBA draft. She began her professional career in Bulgaria and Switzerland before taking four years away from basketball. In 2018, she was named Queensland Basketball League MVP with the Ipswich Force and then debuted in the Women's National Basketball League for the Sydney Uni Flames. She won an NBL1 North championship with the Northside Wizards in 2023 and was named NBL1 North MVP in 2024.

Contents

Early life

Johnson was born in Santa Rosa, California. [1] She started playing basketball at the age of six, encouraged by her parents who both played. [2] She attended Maria Carrillo High School, where she played four years for both the basketball team and the soccer team. She scored over 2,000 points during her high school career for the Pumas. As a senior, she led Maria Carrillo to a 28–2 overall record and a North Bay League Championship with a 14–0 record while averaging 24.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. [3]

College career

As a freshman at Oregon in 2008–09, Johnson averaged 7.9 points and a team-leading 5.4 rebounds per game. She was named Pac-10 All-Freshman Honorable Mention and became the first freshman in program history since Bev Smith (1978–79) to lead the Ducks in both rebounding (163) and steals (42). She scored a season-high 18 points in 77–69 win over Washington on February 14, 2009. [3]

As a sophomore in 2009–10, Johnson was named Pac-10 Honorable Mention after averaging 12.7 points per game with a team-leading (3rd Pac-10) 8.5 rebounds per game. She scored a career-high 32 points, and added 11 rebounds, shooting 13-of-18 from the floor and 4-of-5 from 3-point range in a 95–68 win over Portland on December 2, 2009. [3]

As a junior in 2010–11, Johnson was named Pac-10 Honorable Mention for the second straight year after finishing third in the Pac-10 in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 15.9 points and 8.3 rebounds. She became just the ninth player in program history, and first since 2002, to reach the 1,000-point threshold during her junior year. She recorded game and season highs with 29 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and four steals in loss to CSU Bakersfield on November 27, 2010. [3]

As a senior in 2011–12, Johnson was named to the Pac-12 All-Conference Team for the first time in her career after leading the Ducks with averages 18.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She scored 31 points, including 20 in the first half, and added 11 rebounds and a career-best five 3-pointers in a win over Illinois on November 18. Two days later, she recorded games high in points (30) and rebounds (19) as Oregon edged Portland State, 75–71. She was subsequently named the Pac-12 Player of the Week for the week of November 14–20 after averaging 30.5 points and 15.0 rebounds per game. She averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in Oregon's first nine games of the year before fracturing her thumb in a fall to the floor against Denver on December 11 and missed the team's next 11 games. [3]

Johnson ended her collegiate career with 1,505 points and 893 rebounds. She became the only player in Oregon women's basketball history to rank in the all-time top five of points (5th), rebounds (4th), steals (195, 5th) and three-pointers (168, 5th). [3] Off the court, Johnson graduated with a double major in psychology and sociology, and pursued a Master's degree in couples and family therapy. [4] She became the first Oregon women's player in program history to be named to the Capital One Academic All-America team on three occasions (first team: 2012, 2011; second team: 2010). She was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic First Team for the third straight year in 2012 and was also the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2012. [3]

Professional career

Johnson was drafted in the third round of the 2012 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. As the 33rd overall pick, she became the first student-athlete from Oregon to be drafted since Cathrine Kraayeveld in 2005. [3] Her career in Phoenix lasted three weeks after suffering a bad concussion, which led to her being waived. [5]

Johnson made her professional debut in the 2012–13 season with WBC Dunav Ruse in the Bulgarian League. She helped Ruse win the league championship as well as the Bulgarian Cup title, earning Cup MVP honors. In 31 league games, she averaged 14.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game. She also averaged 19.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.3 blocks in four Eurocup games. [6]

For the 2013–14 season, Johnson joined Fizzy Riva Basket of the Swiss League. In 22 games, she averaged 22.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. [6]

Johnson walked away from the sport in 2014, with her exile lasting until November 2017. [5]

Johnson joined the Ipswich Force of the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) in Australia for the 2018 season. She was named QBL Most Valuable Player after leading the league in scoring and rebounds, finishing with 25 points and 14 rebounds per game. She was also named QBL All-League Team. [7] [8] [9]

On July 6, 2018, Johnson signed with the Sydney Uni Flames of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) for the 2018–19 season. [10] In 21 games, she averaged 3.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. [6]

Johnson re-joined the Ipswich Force for the 2019 QBL season. [11] In 19 games, she averaged 23.0 points, 13.4 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game. [6] She was named to QBL All-League Team for the second straight year. [12]

Johnson was set to re-join the Force for the 2020 NBL1 season prior to the season cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [13]

In January 2021, Johnson signed with the South West Metro Pirates of the NBL1 North for the 2021 season. [14] In 12 games, she averaged 23.0 points, 14.67 rebounds, 2.92 assists and 1.92 steals per game. [15]

In February 2023, Johnson signed with the Northside Wizards for the 2023 NBL1 North season. [16] She helped the Wizards win the NBL1 North championship, winning 2–0 in the grand final series over the Rockhampton Cyclones. [17] [18] [19] In 23 games, she averaged 17.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. [6]

In November 2023, Johnson re-signed with the Wizards for the 2024 NBL1 North season. [20] She was named NBL1 North MVP and earned league All-Star Five honors. [21] In 19 games, she averaged 20.47 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.74 assists and 1.95 steals per game. [22]

Personal life

Johnson the daughter of Erik and Lisa Johnson, and has two younger brothers, Brian and Curtis. [3]

Related Research Articles

Caitlin Mary Cunningham is an Australian basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) between 2003 and 2012. She has also played in multiple Australian state leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiana Mangakahia</span> Australian basketball player

Tiana Cynthia Mangakahia is an Australian former professional basketball player. She began her career with two seasons in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) before playing college basketball in the United States for Syracuse University between 2017 and 2021. After a season in Russia, Mangakahia returned to the WNBL in 2022. She retired in 2023 due to breast cancer.

La Charles Rashawn "C. J." Massingale is an American-Australian professional basketball player for the Northside Wizards of the NBL1 North. He played three years of college basketball for Washington and one year for Metro State. He moved to Australia in 2005, where he has since played his entire career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Blanchfield</span> Australian basketball player

Todd Blanchfield is an Australian professional basketball player for the Mackay Meteors of the NBL1 North. He is also contracted with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League (NBL). He began his NBL career in 2009 with the Townsville Crocodiles, where he played six seasons. Between 2015 and 2023, he played for Melbourne United (2015–17), Sydney Kings (2017–18), Illawarra Hawks (2018–20) and Perth Wildcats (2020–23). In 2017, he won a gold medal with Australia at the FIBA Asia Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sami Whitcomb</span> American-Australian basketball player

Samantha Allison Whitcomb is an American-Australian professional basketball player for the Seattle Storm of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Washington Huskies before making a name for herself in Australia with the Rockingham Flames in the State Basketball League (SBL) and the Perth Lynx in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She made her debut in the WNBA in 2017 and won championships with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and 2020. She became an Australian citizen in 2018 and made her debut for the Australian Opals.

Christopher Cedar is an Australian professional basketball player who last played for the Logan Thunder of the NBL1 North. He played six seasons for the Townsville Crocodiles in the National Basketball League (NBL) between 2007 and 2013. He returned to the Crocodiles for a short stint in 2016. In the NBL1 North, he has played for the Townsville Heat, Rockhampton Rockets, Mackay Meteors and Southern Districts Spartans. He won NBL1 North championships in 2014, 2015 and 2021.

Shaun Bruce is an Australian professional basketball player for the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Logan Thunder of the NBL1 North. He began his NBL career in 2012 as a development player with the Cairns Taipans, before earning a full-time roster spot in 2013. In 2016, he moved south to join the Brisbane Bullets. After half a season with the Adelaide 36ers in 2019, he joined the Kings.

Anneli Maley is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She is also contracted with the Perth Redbacks of the NBL1 West. She made her WNBL debut in 2016 and then spent two seasons in the United States playing college basketball for the Oregon Ducks and TCU Horned Frogs. With the Bendigo Spirit in 2022, she was named the WNBL Most Valuable Player.

Nathan Adam Sobey is an Australian professional basketball player for the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Ipswich Force of the NBL1 North. He played college basketball for the Wyoming Cowboys before debuting in the NBL in 2014 for the Cairns Taipans. He was a member of the Australian Boomers team that won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch McCarron</span> Australian basketball player

Mitchell James Robert McCarron is an Australian professional basketball player for the Taranaki Airs of the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL). He is also contracted with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL).

Atem Kuol Atem Bol is a South Sudanese basketball player for the Ipswich Force of the NBL1 North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devondrick Walker</span> American basketball player

Devondrick Deshawn Walker is an American professional basketball player for the Rockingham Flames of the NBL1 West. He played three years of college basketball for the Texas A&M–Commerce Lions between 2011 and 2014 before playing the first three seasons of his professional career in the NBA Development League. He later played in Italy, France, Australia, New Zealand and Latvia. In the NBL1 West, Walker is a two-time league MVP and a championship winner in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Kay</span> Australian basketball player (born 1992)

Nicholas Colin Kay is an Australian professional basketball player for Shimane Susanoo Magic of the Japanese B.League. He played college basketball for the Metro State Roadrunners before beginning his professional career in the National Basketball League (NBL). He won two NBL championships with the Perth Wildcats in 2019 and 2020. He also won a New Zealand NBL championship and league MVP honours with the Wellington Saints in 2019. In 2021, he won a bronze medal with the Australian national team at the Tokyo Olympics.

Chelsie Alexa Schweers is an American former basketball player. She played college basketball for Christopher Newport before playing professionally for ten years.

Jeremy Combs is an American professional basketball player for the Rockingham Flames of the NBL1 West. He played college basketball for Texas Southern University, where was named the 2019 Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Shyla Jade Heal is an Australian professional basketball player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Magnay</span> Australian basketball player

Will Scott Magnay is an Australian professional basketball player for the Tasmania JackJumpers of the National Basketball League (NBL). He is also contracted with the Gold Coast Rollers of the NBL1 North. He played one season of college basketball for the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaz Shelley</span> Australian basketball player

Jazmin Pamela Shelley is an Australian professional basketball player for the Ballarat Miners of the NBL1 South. She is also contracted with Geelong United of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). She was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2024 WNBA draft. A point guard, she began her college basketball career at Oregon before transferring to Nebraska after her sophomore season. In her first year with the Cornhuskers, Shelley was a second-team All-Big Ten selection, before making the coaches' first-team in her next season. She returned for a fifth college season and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors. Shelley previously played for the Melbourne Boomers of the WNBL, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 2019. She plays for the Australian national team and is a three-time gold medalist at the junior level.

Northside Wizards is a NBL1 North club based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 North. The club is a division of Northside Basketball Inc., the major administrative basketball organisation in northern Brisbane. The Wizards play their home games at Northside Indoor Sports Centre.

Miela Elizabeth Goodchild is an Australian professional basketball player for the Perth Lynx of the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL). After winning a championship in the WNBL as a development player with the Townsville Fire in 2018, she played four seasons of college basketball in the United States for the Duke Blue Devils. She returned to the WNBL in 2022, playing a season for the Melbourne Boomers before joining the Perth Lynx in 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Amanda Johnson WNBA Stats". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  2. ↑ Harrip, Rowan (June 29, 2018). "Straight shooter back in game after toxic relationship". The Courier-Mail . The Queensland Times. Archived from the original on August 24, 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Amanda Johnson - Women's Basketball". University of Oregon Athletics. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ Pearlman, Jeff (March 7, 2012). "Jeff Pearlman: Oregon's Amanda Johnson a student-athlete in the truest sense". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Anderson, Rowan (June 30, 2018). "Amanda Johnson's career reignited with the Ipswich Force". pickandroll.com.au. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Amanda Johnson, Basketball Player, News, Stats - Eurobasket" . Eurobasket LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  7. ↑ "2018 QBL Season Review". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. August 29, 2018. Archived from the original on March 12, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
  8. ↑ "2018 QBL Award Winners". qbl.basketballqld.com.au. Archived from the original on March 12, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Johnson Named 2018 QBL MVP - Sydney Flames". Sydney Flames. August 29, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Flames sign American forward Amanda Johnson - Sydney Flames". Sydney Flames. July 6, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  11. ↑ Lems, David (May 12, 2019). "Ipswich's double treat: Second win and birthday cake". The Courier-Mail . The Queensland Times. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ "All-Star 5 League Team". facebook.com/basketballqld. August 27, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  13. ↑ Heslehurst, Brayden (March 15, 2020). "College standout adds to already talented Ipswich Force roster". The Courier-Mail . Springfield News. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "South West Metro Pirates are excited to announce the signing of American forward, Amanda 'AJ' Johnson for the upcoming 2021 NBL1 season". facebook.com/SWMPirates. January 22, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Amanda Johnson". southwestmetropirates.nbl1.com.au. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ "NBL1 North Player Announcement 2023". facebook.com/northsidewizards. February 13, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ Pike, Chris (August 4, 2023). "NBL1 North Recap | Grand Finals Game 1". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  18. ↑ Pike, Chris (August 5, 2023). "NBL1 North Recap | Grand Finals Game 2". NBL1.com.au. Archived from the original on August 6, 2023. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Northside Wizards crowned NBL1 North women's champions". NBL1.com.au. August 5, 2023. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Northside Wizards is excited to announce the next signing of our OJ Pippin Homes NBL1 Women's Player". facebook.com/northsidewizards. November 15, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  21. ↑ "2024 NBL1 Awards Tracker". NBL1.com.au. July 22, 2024. Archived from the original on August 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ "AJ Johnson". NBL1.com.au. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.