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Tessa Johnson enjoying freshman season at South Carolina

The former state player of the year is making big impact off the bench for the top-seed Gamecocks.

ST MICHAEL, Minn. — One year after graduating, Tessa Johnson's impact is still being felt in St. Michael.

"Doesn't matter if I'm at church, or if I'm in the hallways, people are talking about South Carolina and Tessa women's basketball, and it's great," said St. Michael-Albertville girls head basketball coach Kent Hamre.

As the former state champion, state player of the year and McDonald's All-American tries to lead South Carolina to a second national title in the last three years, her legacy still lives on in the hallways of St. Michael-Albertville High School.

"I hope that it inspires kids still at St. Michael, that they can still play at a high level, and that they can do whatever they dream of," said South Carolina freshman guard Tessa Johnson.

Johnson has averaged 6 points and 17 minutes per game for the Gamecocks during the regular season, including a team-high 15 off the bench in the elite eight win over Oregon State.

"Minnesota has developed a lot with basketball, and we're becoming known in Minnesota and colleges are now looking at Minnesotans, and it wasn't like that years back," said Johnson.

Johnson and former Hopkins star Paige Bueckers (UConn) represented the state of Minnesota at the NCAA Women's Final Four over the weekend.

"It means a lot. I think it's very special, and it's very cool that there's two Minnesotans that can represent the state of Minnesota," said Johnson.

"For our younger kids, they want to be like Tessa, they want to be like Paige, and what they've done, not only for St. Michael-Albertville, or Hopkins, but for the entire state of Minnesota," said Hamre.

"I'm very proud and honored to represent the state of Minnesota," said Johnson.

There's only one thing left to accomplish for Johnson and the rest of her teammates in Cleveland this weekend, and it's all focused on earning South Carolina's third national championship in program history. The final challenge will come Sunday afternoon against Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Game tips off at 2 p.m.

"It would mean everything, especially with this team. This team is amazing, and I couldn't ask for a better team," said Johnson. 

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