Jamie Johnson had identified for a very long time that she wished to be a Viking.
The Ferndale Excessive College senior attended her first Western Washington College basketball recreation when she was in fifth grade. Quite a few workforce camps at WWU adopted, beginning in center faculty, whereas throughout highschool she typically watched video games along with her Golden Eagle teammates at Carver Excessive College.
“Western has at all times been the best faculty for me with the mixture of being near residence and the nice athletes and leaders that it produces,” says Johnson. “I did not have quite a lot of different concerns as a result of I actually wished to go to the westerns.”
So it wasn’t a lot of a shock when Johnson joined the Vikings’ recruiting class in 2021.
West Washington did not must look far to search out probably the greatest within the state because the versatile 5-foot-10 guard had a junior season averaging 11.3 factors per recreation whereas dumping 42 p.c of her pictures Discipline hit and pulled down 5.4 rebounds a contest.
Johnson is a two-time all-league decide for the Golden Eagles and received the second workforce in the whole Northwest League as a junior final yr after averaging 11.3 factors per recreation. Picture credit score: Erin Gunter
As well as, Johnson was a second workforce of the whole league within the extremely aggressive Northwest League final yr after receiving an Honorable Point out after their sturdy sophomore season.
“[Jamie] is at all times the primary to hit the gymnasium and the final to depart after a exercise, ”says Terri Yost, Ferndale basketball coach. “She at all times places in additional work to make herself a stronger participant. Western will get an general nice participant and teammate. She’s going to encourage her teammates and can do something to do something for the workforce. She is team-oriented and does all the things she has to do to make her workforce a hit. “
Initially meant as a 3-point shooter, Johnson continued to develop their recreation during the last yr. Throughout her recruitment, she was inspired by the Western Washington teaching workers so as to add further dimensions to her offensive abilities.
Johnson did simply that.
“[Western Washington] informed her they wished to see her assault and cope extra indoors, [wanted to see] how she bought away from dribbling, ”says Yost. “That made her a stronger offensive participant. She has improved her foot velocity over the previous yr by coaching with gritworks. This has helped her grow to be a defender that we will use with our workforce protection anyplace on the pitch. “
Johnson will open their senior season on Could 18th when Ferndale visits Squalicum. Picture credit score: Erin Gunter
Johnson joins a Vikings workforce that scored an ideal 6-0 in a shortened 2020/21 season. Western posted a file of 22-9 final yr and rose to the NCAA Division II Championship match earlier than its season was canceled as a result of COVID pandemic. It was the twenty first time within the final 29 seasons beneath head coach Carmen Dolfo that the Vikings had 20 wins.
“Jamie is a neighborhood product that we have seen play since childhood,” says Dolfo, who led the Vikings to a file of 612-245 throughout their 29 years at Bellingham. “She’s an amazing shooter and such a tough employee. We’ve seen her recreation enhance yr after yr at Ferndale Excessive College and we all know it would proceed when she hits campus. We’re more than happy that Jamie is a part of our program. ”
A part of a four-player recruitment class for the Vikings, Johnson joins guards Hailey Hiatt (Arlington, Washington) and Eden Perry (Roseville, Calif.), Posting Truitt Reilly of Silverton, Ore.
“I am actually excited to play with different like-minded athletes and develop not simply as a participant however as an individual,” stated Johnson. “I sit up for seeing the individual I can be in 5 years.”
Ferndale senior Jamie Johnson will play for the Western Washington College basketball program for the subsequent season. Picture credit score: Erin Gunter
So what sort of gamers does Johnson assume West Washington can be?
“I would say Western makes me an formidable and optimistic participant,” says Johnson. “I’m able to do all the things I can for my workforce. On the pitch, my strengths are my three-point pictures and assaults as much as the basket. For the previous yr and a half, I’ve targeted on bettering my velocity, power, and endurance. “
Earlier than embarking on her school profession with the Vikings, nonetheless, Johnson will first attempt to finish her Golden Eagles profession with a cheerful ending.
“For the previous 4 years at Ferndale, I’ve felt supported by my coaches for serving to me grow to be a flexible participant and for supporting the entire additional time within the gymnasium,” says Johnson. “Within the coming season I’m excited to see how properly we will enhance in such a short while.”
Johnson will open their ultimate season in Ferndale on Could 18th when the Golden Eagles host visits Squalicum. Ferndale comes from a 16-7 marketing campaign through which the workforce rose to the county match.
“Teaching Jamie was an absolute pleasure,” says Yost. “Their work ethic, mindset, and love of the sport are issues that can’t be taught to a participant. So having all three in a single participant is one thing particular. She’s a participant you possibly can at all times depend on when she exhibits up on and off the basketball court docket. ”
