M Club Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2008
The women's basketball program's first-ever WNBA draftee, LaTonya Johnson still ranks among the Memphis career leaders in scoring, free-throws made, free-throws attempted, three-point field goals made and rebounds. She remains one of just two women's basketball players in school history to take a team to the NCAA tournament all four years of her career.
Johnson came to Memphis from Winchester, Tenn., and Franklin County High School. Johnson earned multiple honors from the Great Midwest Conference, being named the league Newcomer of the Year and earning All-newcomer team and all-conference honors after averaging 17.6 points and 6.1 rebounds as a freshman. She helped the Tigers to the finals of the Great Midwest Conference tournament and to the NCAA Second Round with a 74-72 win over Southern Cal in the first round.
She was named a Basketball Times All-American honorable mention honoree the following season after averaging 20.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. She also connected on a then-school record 64 three-point field goals as a sophomore, earning C-USA first team honors after helping the Tigers to an exciting overtime victory in the C-USA championship game for the first of two league championships the team would win with Johnson in uniform.
The accolades continued in her junior year, as she garnered second team all-conference honors while helping Memphis to its third straight NCAA appearance.
Johnson capped her outstanding career with a senior season that saw her earn C-USA first team and tournament MVP honors, as she helped Memphis to its second C-USA tournament title.
She was also named a Basketball Times All-American honorable mention again following her senior season before becoming the team's first-ever WNBA draftee when she was drafted by the Utah Starzz in the third round.
