Kinyada Johnson, the tournament Most Valuable Player on the first Pasadena City College women's sports team to ever win a state title in 2009, was inducted into the California Community College Women's Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Wednesday evening.
She was honored along with Shamone Warren, an All-State player at Solano College in 1994, and Greg Herrick, a 30-year head coach at College of the Canyons, at the annual women's basketball Banquet of Champions preceding the 2024 3C2A State Championship Tournament hosted this weekend at Mt. San Antonio College.
A 5-foot-5 point guard originally out of Hesperia High, Johnson is the most signature player during the Lancers run of seven consecutive state championship tournament appearances from 2004-2010.
Johnson's two seasons at PCC (2007-2008, 2008-2009) culminated with her being first named to the All-State Second Team for the regular season and then the top player at the '09 state tourney. she paced the Lancers by first scoring a school playoff record 35 points (since tied twice) in a SoCal Regionals victory over Chaffey. After PCC punched a ticket to the Elite Eight held at Fresno's Selland Arena with a home win over San Bernardino Valley, she scored 34 points in a state quarterfinals, 95-93 overtime triumph over City College of San Francisco.
In the semifinals, she set a PCC postseason record with the most assists in a playoff game with 12 to go with 18 points in memorable PCC upset victory over undefeated and top-seeded Ventura, 106-93. Johnson then tallied 26 points to lead the Lancers to the top of the basketball world, winning the state title game over San Joaquin Delta, 74-64. Johnson and PCC head coach Joe Peron along with the rest of the Lancers participated in the net-cutting ceremony at the Selland Arena home basket.
Johnson cuts piece of net following state title victory in 2009
She is the college's all-time leading scorer with 1,097 points, and PCC's all-time assists leader with 443, including her 231 in '08-09 as a single season record. She led PCC in scoring, assists, steals and free throw shooting during both of her seasons.
As a freshman, the Lancers finished 29-6 and made it to the state semifinals. As a sophomore, the team went 33-4 to win the state crown, the most victories ever by PCC under Peron, the college's all-time winningest head coach in all sports
Johnson earned the CCCSIA State Athlete of the Month Award for March, 2009. She was later named the PCC Women's Athlete of the Year for all sports for 2008-2009. She was twice named All-South Coast Conference.
Over her two seasons, her PCC teams totaled a remarkable 62-10 winning record.
Johnson is the second Lancer to be honored in the CCCWBCA Hall of Fame following PCC Hall of Famer Tiana Sanders, inducted into the women's basketball hall in 2016.
2024 CCCWBCA Hall of Fame Class
