Staten Island, NY | Of all of the College of Staten Island's programs, perhaps the Women's Basketball team was coming into the 2020-21 season with the greatest fanfare, having finished the previous year undefeated in the CUNYAC and with a great freshman class to boot for their official entry into the East Coast Conference and NCAA Division II.  Part of that class is Kaia Johnson, a Brooklyn native who is crossing the bridge to lend her talents to the Dolphins squad as a future anchor to the program and its outlook of success.

A 2020 graduate from Medgar Evers College Preparatory School in Brooklyn, Johnson was hooked on CSI the minute she set eyes on the institution and learned about the academic and athletic pedigree the campus had to offer.  The College of Staten Island was her one and only college application last year, a testament of what she thought of the campus and the coaching staff that recruited her.

"I chose CSI based primarily on the academic reputation for my major and to be part of the women's basketball team," she explained. "Several others from my high school attended and respect CSI, and I believe that CSI will live up to my academic expectations and more. It'll help me find opportunities for personal growth and development not only academically, but also to expand beyond classroom knowledge."

Johnson is pretty focused on what she wants to accomplish in the classroom.  She will pursue Psychology at CSI with the ultimate intention of being a sports psychologist, and referenced how highly she thought of CSI's program.  Obviously, this proved to be great news for CSI Head Coach Nicole Sarcone, who is entering her third season at the helm.  She heavily recruited Johnson and knows she will be a tremendous asset both on the court and in the classroom, something she expects to be standard fare with her teams.

"Kaia comes from a very demanding program at Medgar Evers Prep, and so she has a really good foundation for things like time management, knowing how to balance a tough schedule, and what she needs to do to prosper academically," said Sarcone.  "She wants to be challenged in the classroom.  She puts a lot of thought into what she does and appreciates the avenues she opens for herself by doing well academically.  Being a well-rounded student-athlete is always on her radar, and it makes her a very strong addition to our team."   

Without question, Johnson's impact in the classroom will be strong, but Sarcone is also banking on the backcourt ace being both an immediate impact and a player who progresses into an anchored position at CSI.  Johnson averaged over 12 points per game at Medgar Evers Prep, adding over six rebounds and eight assists per contest.  She was named Most Valuable Player for the Cougars, and has also played for clubs like New Heights (2016-17), Michelle Campbell Hoops (2018) and Exodus in 2019.  She brings a heavy defensive and leadership presence to the floor, something that makes her a natural fit in Sarcone's system.

"Physically, what stands out with Kaia is her exceptional speed and quickness, her ability to handle the ball and to see the court," the coach said.  "She has tremendous court vision.  She knows how to create and where to find gaps and that's not easy to teach.  She is the kind of player who sees an end in sight, doesn't play blindly, and attacks with purpose.  We need and want players who can create, score, and defend, and she can create problems for opponent ball handlers.  We know we can use her strengths to generate quick, easy, buckets the other way.  We're very excited at what she brings to the table." 

As one of a select handful of players in Sarcone's inaugural scholarship class, Johnson knows she will be asked to be a vital presence to the team in many ways.  She knows that being a well-rounded student-athlete is the key to success at the college level, knowing that in time she will get to showcase in all areas.  "I feel I can have a huge impact on the current CSI program based on my academics and the activities being done outside of the classroom," she said.  "My production will make me noticeable and guide me into the right path for the future."

Like all of her teammates, veterans and freshmen alike, the fall semester has proved challenging.  As competitive as a player as she is on the hardwood, she has had to curb that in favor of simply getting to know her new team via virtual training sessions and team-bonding activities.  Although it can be frustrating at times to not be able to get out and perform, she understands that this time is crucial to her building blocks for success.

"Even though we haven't had physical activity in person, the team has been doing group Zoom's and team workouts which are very productive," Johnson explained.  "We bond very well on the group calls and we believe that seeing each other in person is keeping us motivated. It's unfortunate that we can't be together because of COVID, but we still try to be positive and wish for a modified season. My teammates are amazing people and I honestly and truly wish we all were currently together."

That type of exuberance resonates with Sarcone, who is building a culture of highly-competitive women who value each other's company and whose goals are to make the entire group stronger, on and off the field of play.  "Our culture is to bring in players who love the game and who love competing, who love the challenge of making us a better team every day and Kaia fits that mold," Sarcone stated.  "The game means a lot to her.  She sees the bigger picture of this being a team sport.  On and off the court, whatever we need to do to get better, players like Kaia are always on board, and those are the kids that are constantly making everyone better." 

 

Johnson understand the importance of being a part of that dynamic.  She has lofty goals for her career at CSI, but knows that they are all very attainable with hard work and commitment.  "Some of my personal goals are to maintain a good GPA, remain focused, stick to all of my commitments and to stay confident throughout every semester," she stated.  "I want to help create a respectful, positive, healthy and basketball-learning environment, improve my teammates understanding and appreciation of team play and field spatial designation." 

Of course, Johnson also enjoys being part of a winning program, and she wants to be a part of that at CSI for sure.  "We want to win the conference. That's a goal that all of us on the team want, including the coaching staff," she says with a smile. "We're going to do everything in our power to do that."

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Johnson is on a partial athletic scholarship at CSI.  She currently lives at home with her mother and father, Youlinda Browne and Kelsey Johnson, and she is a part of a big family that includes older brother Taykwann, older sister Chelsea, and younger sister Olivia.  Being a part of a big family certainly has its advantages too. "I have a great motivation system at home so it is impossible to slack off on what I do best," she noted.  "It is my job to remain poised and to never lose focus on this sport regardless of what is going on in the outside world."

Everyone at CSI is excited at Johnson's energy and approach.  Like many, she chose CSI, and the Dolphins will be better for it.

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