Lady Griz signing completes husband-wife recruiting coup
5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
University of Montana women's basketball coach Robin Selvig announced Thursday that Shaunte Nance-Johnson has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Lady Griz program next season. Nance-Johnson is the wife of Anthony Johnson, the 6-3 guard from Yakima Valley Community College the Grizzly men's basketball team signed last week.
Nance-Johnson, a 5-5 point guard, is a 2005 graduate of Henry Foss High in Tacoma, Wash. She played at Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho, as a freshman in 2005-06, then transferred to Yakima Valley for the 2006-07 season. Nance-Johnson did not play in 2007-08. During her year away from basketball, Nance-Johnson coached the girls basketball team at Riverside Christian School in Yakima while Johnson completed his second year at YVCC.
Nance-Johnson will enter the Lady Griz program as a junior in eligibility. The couple was married Nov. 1, 2006.
Nance-Johnson becomes the first junior college transfer to join the Montana women's basketball program since Jill Greenfield and current assistant coach Annette Rocheleau, nee Whitaker, transferred into the program prior to the 1979-80 season.
"Junior college is not the route we traditionally go," Selvig said. "Nothing against JC transfers, but we like kids in our program who come from the bottom up, developing in the program and looking forward to when it's their time. That's just the way it's worked for us.
"But this situation just worked out well for everyone involved. The men were recruiting Shaunte's husband, and we had only two kids in that (junior) class and a scholarship available with Betsy Snead's departure.
"We started checking her out and we really like what she can bring to our program. She's a prototype point guard who has great speed and quickness. She's a great kid and a real leader. She's an impressive young lady who is going to make a great addition.
"Point guard isn't necessarily an area of concern for us because of Mandy (Morales), but depth at the point guard is definitely an area of concern. For any (incoming) player to have an immediate opportunity with the kids we have returning, that would be the position.
"Again, it just worked out well for everyone. Shaunte just wanted to be with her husband and have an opportunity to play again."
At Foss High Nance-Johnson was a two-time Narrows League MVP, an all-state selection, a McDonald's All-American nominee and a member of the 4A West team at the 2005 Washington State Coaches Association All-State game.
After helping the NNU Crusaders to a 17-11 finish in 2005-06 as a freshman, Nance-Johnson joined the Yaks in 2006-07. As a team captain, she averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 steals, 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Nance-Johnson was the defensive point of attack on a YVCC team that forced an average of 26 turnovers per game.
Playing in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC), Yakima Valley won the Eastern Region regular-season championship in 2006-07 with a 12-2 record. The Yaks finished 29-4 overall, advancing to their third straight NWAACC tournament final four.
The signing of Nance-Johnson brings Selvig's 2008-09 recruiting class to four. During last November's early signing period Selvig signed high school seniors Ashley Ferda of Whitefish, Mont., Ali Hurley of Anaconda, Mont., and Tianna Ware of Bakersfield, Calif.
Montana went 25-7 in 2007-08, winning its 21st regular-season conference championship and advancing to its 17th NCAA Tournament. The Lady Griz will return four starters and eight letter-winners in 2008-09.
Five Questions with Nance-Johnson
Q: What was your one year away from the game like?
SN-J: Staying away from the game was difficult. Fortunately I was able to channel my intensity into coaching my girls' varsity team. I also started a business last summer where I do individual basketball workouts with kids, so anytime I felt down about not playing, I could call some clients and put on a basketball clinic.
In the end it was my husband's success that made me want to strap on my Jordans again. The competitive juices started to flow, and I haven't lost my intensity, my quickness or my handle. I know once I'm at Montana it's going to be crazy.
Q: You led Riverside Christian to a 22-6 record as a coach. How has seeing the game from that perspective made you a better basketball player?
SN-J: As a point guard it's important to have a connection with your coach so you can actually become the coach on the floor. After spending a year as the coach, I think I'll be able to process what Coach Selvig wants a lot faster and easier. I think I can now see the game from more of a coach's point of view. The game has slowed down, and I can see a play ahead. I call it "coaches' vision."
I now have a newfound respect for how much time coaches put into the game. It's definitely a 24-7 job, with no breaks. That makes me want to put in the same amount of time as a player as they do.
Q: What are your thoughts on joining the Montana program?
SN-J: I am so excited to be joining such a successful and respected team. I'm nervous about going to a new team, but Coach Selvig said I'll be fine because I bring something different to the table. That's helped ease my nerves.
I'll admit I don't know much about Montana at all. I come from a big city, so when I heard "Montana," the only thing I thought of was mountains, snow and wild animals. We don't really have any of those things in Tacoma.
Q: What do you know about Coach Selvig?
SN-J: When we came to Missoula on Anthony's official visit, Coach Selvig was out of town, so I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him in person. From what I hear, he is a great person. I have always been taught that if enough people say something about someone, it must be true. So I assume he is what everyone says he is, which is a great person and a great coach. He certainly has the record to prove it.
Q: Talk about the package deal you and Anthony bring to the Lady Griz and Grizzly basketball programs. How fortunate do you feel to have landed in a good situation at Montana?
SN-J: We are very spiritual people, so I know that prayer had everything to do with our situation. We told each other that we wanted to earn our own scholarships, but I was getting recruited by a totally different Division I school. The only school that offered us both scholarships was Central Washington, but we both knew we could play at a higher level. I am so grateful for our opportunity, and I thank God over and over again. It's not every day that a married couple receives athletic scholarships to a Division I school.
The package that we bring to Montana will not only be our individual basketball skills but also our ability to become role models and mentors to young minority couples and younger kids. We both struggled through unfortunate childhoods growing up in Tacoma, so we certainly both take pride in our character and our desire to work hard. Conducting ourselves in a positive way and as Christians is very important.
Nance-Johnson, a 5-5 point guard, is a 2005 graduate of Henry Foss High in Tacoma, Wash. She played at Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho, as a freshman in 2005-06, then transferred to Yakima Valley for the 2006-07 season. Nance-Johnson did not play in 2007-08. During her year away from basketball, Nance-Johnson coached the girls basketball team at Riverside Christian School in Yakima while Johnson completed his second year at YVCC.
Nance-Johnson will enter the Lady Griz program as a junior in eligibility. The couple was married Nov. 1, 2006.
Nance-Johnson becomes the first junior college transfer to join the Montana women's basketball program since Jill Greenfield and current assistant coach Annette Rocheleau, nee Whitaker, transferred into the program prior to the 1979-80 season.
"Junior college is not the route we traditionally go," Selvig said. "Nothing against JC transfers, but we like kids in our program who come from the bottom up, developing in the program and looking forward to when it's their time. That's just the way it's worked for us.
"But this situation just worked out well for everyone involved. The men were recruiting Shaunte's husband, and we had only two kids in that (junior) class and a scholarship available with Betsy Snead's departure.
"We started checking her out and we really like what she can bring to our program. She's a prototype point guard who has great speed and quickness. She's a great kid and a real leader. She's an impressive young lady who is going to make a great addition.
"Point guard isn't necessarily an area of concern for us because of Mandy (Morales), but depth at the point guard is definitely an area of concern. For any (incoming) player to have an immediate opportunity with the kids we have returning, that would be the position.
"Again, it just worked out well for everyone. Shaunte just wanted to be with her husband and have an opportunity to play again."
At Foss High Nance-Johnson was a two-time Narrows League MVP, an all-state selection, a McDonald's All-American nominee and a member of the 4A West team at the 2005 Washington State Coaches Association All-State game.
After helping the NNU Crusaders to a 17-11 finish in 2005-06 as a freshman, Nance-Johnson joined the Yaks in 2006-07. As a team captain, she averaged 9.6 points, 4.7 steals, 4.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Nance-Johnson was the defensive point of attack on a YVCC team that forced an average of 26 turnovers per game.
Playing in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC), Yakima Valley won the Eastern Region regular-season championship in 2006-07 with a 12-2 record. The Yaks finished 29-4 overall, advancing to their third straight NWAACC tournament final four.
The signing of Nance-Johnson brings Selvig's 2008-09 recruiting class to four. During last November's early signing period Selvig signed high school seniors Ashley Ferda of Whitefish, Mont., Ali Hurley of Anaconda, Mont., and Tianna Ware of Bakersfield, Calif.
Montana went 25-7 in 2007-08, winning its 21st regular-season conference championship and advancing to its 17th NCAA Tournament. The Lady Griz will return four starters and eight letter-winners in 2008-09.
Five Questions with Nance-Johnson
Q: What was your one year away from the game like?
SN-J: Staying away from the game was difficult. Fortunately I was able to channel my intensity into coaching my girls' varsity team. I also started a business last summer where I do individual basketball workouts with kids, so anytime I felt down about not playing, I could call some clients and put on a basketball clinic.
In the end it was my husband's success that made me want to strap on my Jordans again. The competitive juices started to flow, and I haven't lost my intensity, my quickness or my handle. I know once I'm at Montana it's going to be crazy.
Q: You led Riverside Christian to a 22-6 record as a coach. How has seeing the game from that perspective made you a better basketball player?
SN-J: As a point guard it's important to have a connection with your coach so you can actually become the coach on the floor. After spending a year as the coach, I think I'll be able to process what Coach Selvig wants a lot faster and easier. I think I can now see the game from more of a coach's point of view. The game has slowed down, and I can see a play ahead. I call it "coaches' vision."
I now have a newfound respect for how much time coaches put into the game. It's definitely a 24-7 job, with no breaks. That makes me want to put in the same amount of time as a player as they do.
Q: What are your thoughts on joining the Montana program?
SN-J: I am so excited to be joining such a successful and respected team. I'm nervous about going to a new team, but Coach Selvig said I'll be fine because I bring something different to the table. That's helped ease my nerves.
I'll admit I don't know much about Montana at all. I come from a big city, so when I heard "Montana," the only thing I thought of was mountains, snow and wild animals. We don't really have any of those things in Tacoma.
Q: What do you know about Coach Selvig?
SN-J: When we came to Missoula on Anthony's official visit, Coach Selvig was out of town, so I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him in person. From what I hear, he is a great person. I have always been taught that if enough people say something about someone, it must be true. So I assume he is what everyone says he is, which is a great person and a great coach. He certainly has the record to prove it.
Q: Talk about the package deal you and Anthony bring to the Lady Griz and Grizzly basketball programs. How fortunate do you feel to have landed in a good situation at Montana?
SN-J: We are very spiritual people, so I know that prayer had everything to do with our situation. We told each other that we wanted to earn our own scholarships, but I was getting recruited by a totally different Division I school. The only school that offered us both scholarships was Central Washington, but we both knew we could play at a higher level. I am so grateful for our opportunity, and I thank God over and over again. It's not every day that a married couple receives athletic scholarships to a Division I school.
The package that we bring to Montana will not only be our individual basketball skills but also our ability to become role models and mentors to young minority couples and younger kids. We both struggled through unfortunate childhoods growing up in Tacoma, so we certainly both take pride in our character and our desire to work hard. Conducting ourselves in a positive way and as Christians is very important.
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