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A lot has changed at LaGrange College since Zyhia Johnson arrived on campus in 2022. The senior women’s basketball player has stayed consistent through it all, whether it was a change in coach, a new athletic director or some other unforeseen obstacle. 

Johnson persevered and scored her 1,000th career point as a Panther against Piedmont on Jan. 14 and has only continued to add to her tally since then. 

“It is definitely a blessing and a testament to the work I put in and the teammates I’ve had,” Johnson said. “I’m just thankful that my teammates and coaches trust me with the ball in my hands at all times.”

What makes Johnson’s achievement even more impressive is the fact that she did it in only three seasons. 

Originally hailing from Clinch County, just east of Valdosta, Johnson did not come to LaGrange College straight out of high school. Instead, Johnson spent her freshman year at Kennesaw State, where she took time away from basketball, before transferring into LaGrange College before her sophomore year. 

“I got a communication internship where I was at just about every single basketball game and I really started to miss it,” Johnson said. “I decided I wanted to play again and reached out to (former LaGrange College player and current Whitewater head coach) Gracie Brunel because we had a little rivalry in high school and she put in a good word for me with the coach and next thing I know I was here playing basketball.”

There were little signs of rust during her first season back on the hardwood as she led the Panthers in scoring. 

Basketball was just one of many sports that the multi-talented Johnson played in her youth. Just during her time in high school she ran track and played softball, basketball and baseball (yes baseball). Johnson was the only girl on the team and while that made her nervous at times, she loves living outside of her comfort zone. 

“Softball was my first love, but I really fell in love with basketball in high school and my senior year I started to think about playing after high school,” she said. “Playing baseball was a challenge and it was definitely different, but they treated me like family there.”

This senior season has pushed Johnson outside of her comfort zone as well. The team has undergone some change with a new coach (Jaden Jonus departing for a new coaching opportunity and was replaced by Destiny Lane-Frazier) as well as Johnson having to step up into a leadership role with the team.

“Being a leader for the team brings a lot of stress, but my teammates make it easy on me and the coach believes in me,” she said. 

Johnson’s offense game has been remarkably consistent this season. The senior has scored in double figures in 15 of 17 games so far this season.

Unsurprisingly, she leads the Panthers in scoring at 17.2 points per game. This was nothing new for Johnson who led the team in scoring her first two seasons with the Panthers with 16.7 and 15.2 points, respectively. 

Johnson is more than just a scorer and is second on the Panthers in steals and assists. For all of her offensive prowess, she is equally as adept on the other end of the court.

“I’m not just out there to score, but also be a shutdown defensive player,” Johnson said. “As a senior, I have to go out there and be composed at all times and make sure the rest of the team is building off my positive energy on offense and defense.”

With one year of eligibility remaining and a graduation date set in May of this year, Johnson is unsure exactly what her immediate future has in store. Regardless of whether this is her swan song or if she comes back for one final run, Johnson’s legacy at LaGrange College is all but assured.