The talent pool for women’s basketball coming out of the high school ranks is deeper than ever with trendsetters such as Minnesota’s Paige Bueckers garnering mainstream attention.
She is far from the only one getting her fair share of headlines. Around Philadelphia, Diamond Johnson has made waves in similar fashion as Bueckers has in the Twin Cities. Johnson leads Neuman Goretti’s girls basketball team and she will not stray too far from her hometown as she will be heading to Rutgers for her freshman campaign.
Johnson recently got a FaceTime call from Allen Iverson – one may have heard of him, especially if one resides within a 100 mile radius of Wells Fargo Center. The call was to invite Johnson – the first ever invite of a woman or girl – to the fourth annual Allen Iverson Classic’s 24K Showcase (which will occur in late April).
She averaged 28 points this past season and dropped 54 in the district championship game. Johnson also won Gatorade Pennsylvania Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year honors.
Allen Iverson FaceTimes Diamond Johnson and invites her to be the FIRST woman in history to integrate men’s All American sports. She will compete at Iverson Classic’s 24K Showcase! pic.twitter.com/wutmo1g2lv
— Allen Iverson Roundball Classic (@iversonclassic) March 2, 2020
Welcome Diamond Johnson to the @iversonclassic 24K showcase game!!! The first time in history, a woman has integrated in a men’s game at this level!!! pic.twitter.com/cbYIstmz45
— Allen Iverson (@alleniverson) March 2, 2020
Thank u @alleniverson for recognizing that Diamond Johnson deserves to play at such an elite level. Basketball has no gender; if you’re good, you’re good. We’re proud of Diamond for establishing herself as one of the greatest basketball players – not defined by gender. Thanks AI! https://t.co/CG2FAu3Usb
— C. Vivian Stringer (@cvivianstringer) March 2, 2020
