Mikayla Johnson
If you didn’t hear back from Anchorage’s Mikayla Johnson this summer, don’t take it personally. She was busy chasing her dream.
Shortly after being named Cook Inlet Conference Player of the Year and leading the Bartlett High girls basketball team to the Class 4A state tournament, she left for San Diego to participate in an exclusive training session before taking off for Seattle to play for an AAU team in a summer circuit of events.
The plan was simple: Earn scholarship offers from major NCAA Division I schools. Bigger the better, more the merrier. She was going to shoot her shot.
“This summer was a go big or go home kind of situation,” she said.
Johnson went so big she landed an opportunity to play in one of the biggest conferences in the country: The Pac-12.
The Class of 2023 guard announced over the weekend that she committed to the University of Colorado, picking the Buffs among a group of finalists that also included Arizona State, Portland and Grand Canyon.
Bartlett’s Mikayla Johnson averaged 19 points as a junior and led the Golden Bears to the Class 4A state tournament. Photo by Bryan Boyett/Alaska Sports Report
Johnson talked to the coaches and then visited the Boulder campus, which reaffirmed her decision.
“Colorado was the most home-like feeling with the staff, the girls, even the environment is similar to Alaska,” she said. “I felt like it was the right fit for me.”
Playing in the Pac-12 will be a dream, something she has visualized since her days as a little dribbler.
“That is something I had on my goal board at a young age, so it’s super surreal to be granted an opportunity to play on the big stage,” she said.
Johnson made it happen after she made her name with a sizzling summer performance on the AAU circuit with the FBC Northwest Alliance out of the Emerald City.
The 6-foot-1 wing can dribble, drive and defend, presenting a mismatch for opponents because she can shoot over smaller guards and blow by taller forwards. Her bread and butter is her marvelous midrange game, something she showcased in front of dozens of college coaches at AAU events to cause her stock to skyrocket.
Another very impressive player today @InsiderExposure #HoosierHeat was @mikaylagj5 6’1 SG has a very smooth game on offense. Patient and made great decisions. Has had some big time performances for @MrYeahIKnow @FBCNars #FBCNWAlliance @brethoops @PrepGirlsHoops @coachkent02 pic.twitter.com/uLZblASMJU
— Batson Basketball (@BatsonBBall) July 7, 2022
“That’s something coaches would always compliment me on, ‘Your midrange game is incredible,’” she said.
It wasn’t long before the D1 offers started to pour in, tripling from three in 2021 to 10 in 2022. More than just that, it was the type of offers she was getting, advancing from mid majors to Power 5 conference schools after Boston College, Arizona State and Colorado jumped in.
Her rapid rise might have surprised others, but Johnson knew she was good enough to play big-time college basketball.
It’s official now that she’s headed to the Pac-12, a conference with a rich history of featuring top-shelf Alaskans like Ruthy Hebard, Molly Tuter, Talisa Rhea, Natalie Jones, Azella Perryman and Alissa Pili.
“That means a lot to me because for a while people didn’t think I was really going to go anywhere with the game,” Johnson said.
At Bartlett, she averaged 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists in 24 games in her first season with the team.
Bartlett’s Mikayla Johnson drives for two. Photo by Bryan Boyett, Alaska Sports Report
Bartlett has become a hoops factory of late as Johnson will become the third player in three years to go D1, following 2021 grad Amelia ‘Uhila (Portland State) and 2022 grad Nyakoat Ruot (Siena).
The Golden Bears are led by Darian Lawson, a former assistant under Clarence Smith who is entering his second season as head coach.
“The coaches over there – the support, the love – they are always willing to get you in the gym whenever,” Johnson said. “I will text Coach Darian in the morning, ‘Can I get a workout?’ and he’s always like, ‘Yeah.’ He does whatever he can.”
Johnson is a gym rat who wants to put in the work. She comes from a military family and learned discipline and hard work growing up.
That’s why she was OK with giving up her summer vacation after a trip with an Alaska travel team didn’t pan out and her mother Kamya signed her up and shipped her off to San Diego for an exclusive training session with FBC player development specialist Cartiea French-Toney, who worked out Johnson alongside All-Pac-12 guard Te-Hina Paopao from the University of Oregon.
Mentorship is key along the journey, you gotta have some people that can give you the answers to the test! Tehina been where Mikayla trying to go! Great week of work in Oceanside with @tehinapaopao12 and @mikaylagj5 #HOTBREAD pic.twitter.com/lizttgDCkB
— Cartiea French-Toney (@MrYeahIKnow) June 24, 2022
Johnson hit the AAU circuit shortly afterward and was on the move and away from home for the whole summer.
“I kind of went a little ghost for a second because I was grinding, two, three workouts a day. Every day,” she said.
Her mother missed having Mikayla around the house but knew she was in good hands with FBC.
“It was a little bit difficult like is always difficult, but she is resilient and no stranger to it especially being a military child,” Kamya said. “But when you are surrounded by great family it always helps. Having that family away from your immediate family.”
Now that she has her college decision made, Johnson can focus on her senior season with Bartlett.
When she does join Colorado next year, Johnson will be one of three Anchorage women playing in the Pac-12, joining Utah’s Alissa Pili (Dimond) and Washington’s Sayvia Sellers (ACS).
“I definitely take pride in being from Alaska,” Johnson said. “I’m just glad Alaska is finally starting to get the recognition that it deserves.”
next year there’s gonna be three anchorage kids in the pac-12.. that’s dope.
— Joey (@Intrnationalhov) October 2, 2022