MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team will welcome six newcomers to its lineup for the 2011-12 season.  Over the course of the summer, usajaguars.com will sit down with the incoming players so that fans have an opportunity to get to know each of them off the court.  The first in the series will be Kierra Johnson, a 5-9 forward from Cleveland State Community College in Cleveland, Tenn.

Johnson signed with USA during the spring signing period and was a two-year starter for the Lady Cougars.  This past season, she helped lead CSCC to a 21-6 overall record and a 13-5 mark in the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association.  Johnson earned honorable mention All-American, first team all-Region VII and all-conference honors after averaging a double-double for CSCC and posting 10 double-doubles in 27 games.  Her 15.3 points per game not only led the team, but also ranked third in the TCCAA, while her 10.7 rebounds led the league and were 15th nationally in the final NJCAA rankings.

Where do you call home?
“I call home Oak Ridge, Tenn., but I also lived in Little Rock, Ark., for five years.”

In your short time in Mobile, how have you liked it so far and how have your classes been?
“I started my first class here (Wednesday) so it has been fine.  It’s hot.  That’s the only thing that bothers me.  It never gets this hot in Oak Ridge, but everything else has been cool.  The people are nice.  The campus is nice.”

Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your life either as a person or a player?
“As a person, I would say my mom and my uncle. They just want the best for me and they have always just believed in me.  They are my motivation sometimes and I want to make them proud.  As a player, I would say two people.  My high school coach Jill Pruden and my AAU coach Norman Jefferson.  They both just pushed me and brought out the best in me as a player.  Coach Jefferson was one of the first people I met when I moved to Tennessee and he got me started playing basketball, because I was taller and bigger than all the other kids.  He told me that he saw potential in me.  If it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t be playing.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season – both individually and for the team?
“I want to be a vocal leader for the team and not be afraid to speak up.  I’m a very vocal person, so I want to use that to my strength. I want to help the team win the conference, help everybody stay focused and be undefeated at home.  Individually, I want to improve my ball-handling and get in better shape.”

What would you say are strengths in your game that can help the team accomplish those goals?
“My leadership skills, my rebounding, my ability to get to the basket and my shooting percentage, I would say those are my strengths.”

Do you have a favorite WNBA player? What aspects of her game do you like?
“Candace Parker.  I like that she is so physical and can play almost every position.  She doesn’t seem to let anything affect her, whether it is a blocked shot or a foul.  It motivates her and seems to make her stronger.  I want to be like that”

Is there a college player that you have seen that you would like to model your game after?
“In college, I like Meighan Simmons from Tennessee.  She just has this drive when she gets on the court that nothing is going to stop her and I like that about her.  I want to mock that from her.”

How do you think your time in junior college has helped you with the transition in basketball to the Division I level, as opposed to someone coming straight out of high school?
“I know a little more of what to expect.  My leadership skills are better.”

As one of the more experienced members of this incoming class and having already made the transition from high school to college, what advice would you give the three incoming freshman to help their transition be easier?
“They need to just stay focused.  You are much more on your own and you have to depend on yourself more.  You don’t have someone staying on you all the time to make sure you do this or that.  It’s a lot more work and you just have to focus more than you did in high school.  Also, for them to not let everything somebody says to you, get to you.  Just take it and learn from it.”

What are you majoring in and what do you want to do after graduation?
“I am majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology.  I picked criminal justice because I like giving orders and I have wanted to be a police officer since I was younger.  When I graduate, my plan is to work for a police department for three years and then try to get on with the FBI and become a federal agent.”

What was the main factor in you choosing to play at South Alabama?
“I knew that South Alabama played in a good conference and I wanted to come play against good competition.  I know some of the players that play in the conference.  I also heard that Mobile was a nice place and I have some family that lives kind of close.”

Who was the main assistant coach that recruited you here to South Alabama and how would you describe your relationship with him that you developed during the recruiting process?
“Coach (Bobby) Brasel was the main coach recruiting me.  We were pretty close and stayed in contact a bunch through email.  He is just a great guy.  He really means well and is just so funny.”

To this point in your career, what has been a highlight or a special moment for you?
“In junior college, I had a triple-double (32 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists) on the road versus Southwest Tennessee the second time we played them.  I also played 40 minutes.  I would say that that was my high moment.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).