After a historic, record-breaking career at Pasadena City College, 2-time, All-State selection Dariel Johnson signed a NCAA Division I scholarship offer to attend and play at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Tuesday.
Johnson will go from playing under one legendary Joe--Lancers head coach Joe Peron--to another in Trojans' coach Joe Foley, one of only 16 coaches to reach 800 career wins at the 4-year university level. Peron is PCC's all-time winningest basketball coach (men or women) and is 13th on the California Community College women's basketball career victories list.
In her two seasons at PCC, Johnson collected her fair share of hardware besides being one of only three Lancers to ever be named to back-to-back All-State teams. A 6-foot-1 forward, Johnson was named the 2020 South Coast Conference North Division Player of the Year after being selected the conference's Freshman of the Year in 2018-19. Also as a freshman, "DJ" was named the 2018-19 PCC Women's Athlete of the Year for all sports.
She became the 11th SCC MVP from Pasadena after Alisa Shinn (2018), Dominique Scott (2011), Jeanine Deno (2007), PCC Hall of Famer Dionne Pounds (2004-2005), Ariel Towns (2003), Tyrea Smith (2000), PCC Hall of Famer Tiana Sanders (1999), Jackie Sadler (1998), and Biljana Bosanac (1993). All but one of the South Coast MVP group, were guided by Peron who took over the Lancers program in 1996-97.
"Dariel will bring experience and versatility to our team," said Coach Foley in a Little Rock press release on his newest signee. "She has the ability to affect the game in a lot of different ways and has done some pretty impressive things the last two years at PCC. Her enthusiasm and excitement about being a part of our program and coming to Little Rock will also have a positive impact for the upcoming year."
Johnson stands as both PCC's all-time leader in rebounds (862) and blocked shots (223) while making it to No. 13 on the school's career scoring list with 795 points.
In the eight SCC North Division games earlier this year, playing against all regional playoff qualifiers, she raised her game to achieve 16.1 points and 19 rebounds per contest. In her career, nine times she grabbed 20 or more rebounds and on three occasions she pulled down 25 boards.
As a freshman, she achieved a remarkable type of triple double as she totaled 28 points, 18 rebounds and blocked a PCC single-game record 12 shots in a championship game victory by the Lancers over LA Trade Tech in the Crossover Challenge Tournament on Jan. 10, 2019.
Johnson earned CCCSIA State Women's Athlete of the Month for January, 2019. She led the state in overall blocked shots with 128, finished third in rebounds average at 14.5 per game and was PCC's leading scorer at 14.8 points per game.
She twice helped PCC earn trips to the Southern California Regional Playoffs, including a regional finals appearance in 2019. Johnson played in what is regarded as the most difficult league in the state--the South Coast North Division.
Johnson selected interdisciplinary studies as her major at Little Rock. Johnson played at Pasadena High prior to attending PCC.
