LSU women’s basketball star Frauge Johnson stays the course.
The 20-year-old sophomore guard is one of the faces of the NIL era – reportedly NCAA champion, rapper, and full-time student who makes millions.
It’s nothing out of the ordinary, but Johnson told the Post he remains humble, knowing he “defied the odds” in his hometown of Savannah, Ga., and found success in Baton Rouge. Told.
“my mom [and manager Kia Brooks] Johnson spoke to the Post ahead of March Madness in 2024. power aid A national TV spot starring her.
“The whole city is like a dog-eat-dog situation. You have to come out of there and be the one to make something happen on your own. My mother really took care of me and my siblings. And she did a great job and I was happy to get it.”
The All-American guard is the daughter of Jason Johnson (1980s rapper Camouflage), who died in an unsolved shooting five months before he was born. According to Forbes.
In her first year at LSU, Johnson signed a record-setting contract with JAY-Z’s ROC Nation and recorded 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 102-85 win over Caitlin, leading the Lady Tigers to All-America honors. He played an important role in winning the championship. Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The 5-foot-10-inch Spitfire commands attention both on and off the court. One of the reasons for that is her social following thanks to her large media following.
Johnson has 1.7 million followers on Instagram, 1.4 million TikTok followers, 104,000 X followers, and 195,000 subscribers on YouTube.
Johnson has his own formula when it comes to dealing with the spotlight, from past criticism of song lyrics to social media rumors during teammate Angel Reese’s absence last fall.
“So things like that will be dealt with within the team,” she said. “You can’t really listen to opinions on social media because everyone has an opinion… You should only look at the good.
“I kind of see what I want to see. So in a way, I don’t use social media that much. I just focus on what I’m doing.”
Advice from one of her idols, LeBron James, continues to motivate the “Big 4” rapper to change people’s perceptions of her.
“LeBron told me to keep doing what I do and never stop,” Johnson said, adding that the Lakers superstar attended LeBron’s show and spoke to him in person there. “I remember vividly what he said. That was the biggest thing. [moment] For me.
“I thought, ‘Wow, sure.’ I love watching this guy [play basketball]. That’s crazy. ”
By keeping a consistent schedule, Johnson is able to balance being an elite athlete, rapper, influencer, and student.
Due to her busy travel schedule and work, she only attends one college class in person at LSU and attends the rest online.
Johnson will temporarily leave Baton Rouge to open for Rod Wave’s concert in Atlanta in December 2023.
Johnson spoke to the Post before the most recent on-court brawl that erupted during LSU’s 79-72 loss to South Carolina in the SEC Championship on March 10.
Things turned physical after trash talk between the two teams escalated when Gamecocks center Camila Cardoso approached Johnson and pushed her to the ground.
When the benches cleared, Johnson’s younger brother, Treylon Milton, 24, jumped over the scorer’s table and ran onto the court.
Milton was arrested and charged with assault, battery and disorderly conduct for his role in the incident and was released on $1,087.50 bail on each charge.
“Everything has been a blessing,” Johnson said of her accomplishment. “I think coming from this city, where I’m from, I’m just trying to overcome hardships and stay humble. I don’t care about the material things.
“But I think when you do something that can inspire people and change people’s perceptions and make people want to follow you, that’s what makes all the difference… When they look at me and want to love me and support me in everything I do, I think it’s because I inspired them and changed their perception. So I think what’s really, really important to me is being who I am, coming from where I’m from, and being able to change people’s lives and inspire them in a different way. . ”
LSU is the No. 3 seed heading into the NCAA Tournament, and if both teams advance, they could face top-seeded Iowa in an Elite Eight showdown.
Johnson appears in Powerade’s March Madness campaign, March Doesn’t Start In March, alongside University of Southern California guard Isaiah Collier, both of whom were announced as the brand’s newest athlete partners in January. ing.
