WCHS grad lands post with Division I program

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

Another former Cape May County high school basketball player is working on the staff of a Division I women’s basketball program.

Kennedy Johnson, a 2014 graduate of Wildwood Catholic, was recently named the Director of Basketball Operations at Binghamton University in New York.

Johnson played four seasons of college basketball at Michigan State after leading Wildwood Catholic to the Cape-Atlantic League title game as a senior. She also worked as an administrative assistant to the Spartan program during the summer of 2017. Johnson also served as a site supervisor and counselor for Michigan State summer basketball camps during her time in East Lansing.

After finishing her career at Michigan State, Johnson spent the 2018-19 season as a professional player for Edremit Belediyesi Surespor in Turkey.

“Kennedy brings a great amount of energy and passion for the game of basketball,” Binghamton coach Bethann Shapiro Ord said in a story on the school’s athletics website. “She is going to be a great asset to our staff and will relate very well to our players. We are fortunate that she has chosen Binghamton University as a place to begin her career.”

Binghamton, a member of the America East Conference, has begun the 2019-20 season with wins in its first eight games after Sunday’s home victory over Eastern Michigan.

Johnson played just one season at Wildwood Catholic. She transferred to the North Wildwood school following the closure of Sacred Heart High School in Vineland after her junior year. She finished her high school career with more than 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Johnson, a native of Galloway Township, is the third alumna of a Cape May County high school to join a Division I women’s basketball coaching staff this season. Lower Cape May graduates Stephanie Agger-Carideo and Lauren Holden are assistant coaches at Penn and Fairleigh Dickinson, respectively.

Johnson’s brother, Austin, a graduate of St. Augustine Prep, is in his fourth season as a defensive tackle with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans.