Olivia Miles and Diamond Johnson: The two Best “Artists” in Women’s College Basketball
When you understand the intricacies and nuances of what it takes to be a successful point guard at the collegiate and professional level, you are much more appreciative when you see players thrive and succeed at the position. As detailed as a MC Escher art piece, the point guard savant is a kin to an artist at work while using the basketball court as their muse. Two college point guards in particular have been showing their work of art on the court so far this season.
Notre Dame sophomore point guard Olivia Miles (in my humble opinion) has been the best point guard in women’s college basketball ever since she enrolled a semester early and stepped onto campus in South Bend. Miles is having a stellar season so far averaging 15.2ppg, 8.0reb, and 7.5ast last (third in the country). She also has already recorded her third career triple double earlier this season and has begun to gain national notoriety with victories in primetime against top ranked opponents in UCONN and Virginia Tech. Miles’ ability to push tempo and create easy scoring opportunities for her teammates is why Notre Dame is currently leading the nation in fast break points and ranks at #5 in the country. Miles’ has great size for a point guard at 5’10 which makes it easier to look past her primary defender and see where the help side defense will be coming from when she attacks the basket. When eligible, Miles’ will be the best point guard prospect to enter the WNBA draft in the past decade and has a game that mirrors that of NBA Hall of Famer Jason Kidd. As Miles continues to improve her perimeter shooting (primarily from the three point line), become more active off the ball, and do a better job of picking her spots, she will be a force to be reckoned with in women’s college basketball. Another fellow ACC point guard has placed her stamp on the season so far and she is Diamond Johnson.
2021-2022 ACC sixth player of the year, Diamond Johnson has been an impeccable leader for the NC State Wolfpack and is showing the nation why she deserved to be ranked as one of the top 25 players in country prior to the start of the 2022-2023 season. Johnson on the season is currently averaging 13.9ppg, 4.7reb, and 3.9ast and has NC State ranked at #6 in the nation heading into ACC play. Johnson’s speed and quick hands on defense allows her to constantly put pressure on the opposing team especially as the game winds down despite her smaller frame of 5’5. Johnson also on the season has shown the ability to be a dynamic scorer by being able to score efficiently from all three levels of the court. Her ability to shoot from the three point line consistently opens up easier driving lanes for her and forces the defense to collapse on her, which then leads to easier passing angles and scoring opportunities for her teammates. Though Johnson has missed the past six game for the Wolfpack and her lack of presence can be felt, fully expect to the Wolfpack to be in legitimate contention to win the ACC and compete for a national championship once Johnson returns. Once Johnson is eligible, she is another player that will not spend much time on the draft board during the WNBA draft. Her play style is most reminiscent of Phoenix Mercury great Cappie Pondexter.
Though both of these players are doing an amazing job of allowing being artists on the court, allow both of their levels of play to be a reflection of what happens when you commit yourself to your craft and treat what you do as an art form.
“In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.”
Proverbs 14:23
