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Home Girls Basketball Johnson, Gilbert led the way
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Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:57

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News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan Poinciana’s Kadesia Johnson will play at Iona College next season, but not in her neon green shoes.

Poinciana’s Kadesia Johnson helped Eagles to third straight district title

By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor
Kadesia Johnson will trade the small-town atmosphere of Kissimmee for the big city lights of New York when she begins her basketball career at Iona College later this year.
She leaves behind a legacy of excellence that will be difficult for future Poinciana High players to emulate.
Johnson signed with Iona, located near New York City, in November, and then concentrated on helping Poinciana win its third straight district championship under Coach Jamerson Jones.


Johnson, for the second time the Osceola News-Gazette Basketball Player of the Year, said she concentrated this season on developing her skills as a point guard, a position she will play at Iona.
“It’s a big responsibility because you are running the team,” she said. “I tried to do a better job of distributing the ball to my teammates this year, trying to help them get better.”
The Lady Eagles enjoyed one of their most successful seasons, and they advanced to the regional semifinal round for the first time. But there, Johnson and the Lady Eagles ran into a hot Harmony team.
“We had never lost to Harmony before, and then we lost to them twice (including a late regular season loss),” Johnson said. “I would have liked for the season to end better, but they were a good team.”
Johnson shares Player of the Year honors with Harmony forward Marie Gilbert.
Johnson, a 5-8 guard/forward, has the ability to take her game to another level when she thinks it’s necessary, as she did in the second half of the regional semifinal against Harmony. She scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half, but the Lady Longhorns prevailed, 45-38.
“The season went well, for the most part, but I wasn’t fine with how it ended,” she said of Poinciana’s 20-8 campaign.
It was an especially sad ending to the season when Coach Jamerson Jones announced his retirement.
“We weren’t surprised when he quit. We knew it was coming,” Johnson said.
Johnson averaged 18.7 points per game, identical to what she averaged as a junior.
Jones said her ability to score inside or outside makes her a formidable player.
“She is a guard who can post up. That’s why she can score 30 in some games,” Jones said.
More importantly, Jones added, Johnson is a positive influence to her teammates.
“She’s been a good leader for our team since she’s been here,” he said.
Johnson transferred to Poinciana from Georgia.
She has stayed in contact with the Iona coaching staff.
“I talk or text them two or three times a week,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it. I like the family atmosphere they have there.”
She credits her parents, Paul Miranda and Desiree Richardson, for helping her become a successful student and athlete.
“My family has always supported me, helping me in any way they can,” she said. “My mom took care of the college recruiting, filling out all the paperwork. All I had to do was to show up and play basketball.”
Which she does as well as just about anyone who laced up their sneakers in Osceola County.
And, speaking of sneakers, Johnson was a standout all season in neon green shoes.
“I got them from the Nike outlet,” she said. “I guess you can say it’s a personal statement.”
Sadly, a statement that probably won’t make the transition to Iona College, where the NCAA has strict wardrobe rules.
“No, I probably won’t be able to wear them there,” she said. “That’s too bad.”

 
 

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