Kymora Johnson has had a busy last few days.
The St. Anne’s-Belfield junior helped lead the Saints to a wild state semifinal win Friday, pouring in 30 points while sparking a surge in the fourth quarter that put STAB in the state title game.
Then Saturday, the Saints fell to powerhouse Paul VI, who won their 15th-straight state title with the victory over STAB.
Fast forward to Wednesday, and Johnson was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year, an award that goes to the top girls player in the state regardless of classification or private or public school. Sam Brunelle won it in 2018 while at William Monroe and Charlottesville’s Malcolm Brickhouse won it for boys soccer back in June of 2021.
“To turn around and have something like this happen is just incredible,” Johnson said. “I’m just blessed.”
Johnson found out while on spring break when her mother Jessica Thomas-Johnson, who’d gotten the news from a text from a coach, woke her up Wednesday with a video call, crying. Johnson initially thought something was wrong before her mom let her know she’d won the award.
“I just was filled with emotions,” Johnson said. “I didn’t fully process it until like 30 minutes later.”
Past winners like Brunelle and Megan Walker from Richmond put Johnson in some rare company too.
“Legends, people who are in the league right now, have been Gatorade players of the year,” Johnson said. “I worked out with Sam when I was 11 and she’s always been an inspiration for me, I’m honored.”
The press release from Gatorade noted Johnson’s ridiculous stat line from this year where she regularly flirted with triple doubles and averaged 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 4.5 steals per game. But the press release also highlighted her work at the Boys and Girls Club and her time volunteering as a youth basketball coach and her 3.53 GPA.
“It’s really important — I think giving back is part of the game and part of life,” Johnson said. “To go back and return the favor for those that have been there for you and supported you along the way. I think everyone should give back. No matter where you started, give back.”
It’s an impressive honor for a player that didn’t even get a chance to step on the floor a year ago as STAB was one of a handful of schools that didn’t end up playing a basketball season last year.
“Even just being able to play was sweet and after a remarkable season, getting this is really special,” Johnson said.
Johnson, whose work ethic is well-documented at this point, hasn’t let anything deter her from doing something to improve herself in some way every day. Even celebrating a Gatorade player of the year award certainly isn’t going to be the thing that derailed her no-days-off mentality.
“Definitely not, I’ll still be in the gym, I’ll be in the gym later today, I got some cardio in,” Johnson said. “Definitely no days off.”
That’s how she got to reap the rewards Wednesday morning. Why change things up now?
