Record-Setting Women’s Basketball Captain Shoots for the Stars

Every once in a while you come across a basketball player who is special. Names like NBA legend LeBron James or WNBA phenom Tamika Catchings come to mind as those once in a lifetime players, but did you know Quinsigamond Community College has its own rising basketball star? First year Lady Wyvern basketball player Devine “Dee Dee” Johnson has been tearing up the basketball court this season with her talent and basketball finesse. Since the start of the season, the freshman point guard and team captain, has been a standout for her playing ability and her poise on and off the court.

According to Lady Wyverns Head Coach Andrew “Andy” Kupec, Ms. Johnson is a strong leader who brings excitement and leadership to the team.

“Dee Dee is having a great season. She’s really helped us. She’s been a great captain, dedicated and patient,” Mr. Kupec said.

On December 7, Ms. Johnson took the Lady Wyverns to their first victory racking up an astounding 50 points (an unofficial school record) in an away game against the Lady Tigers of Roxbury Community College. QCC come out on top, 72-66.

“I knew I scored a lot of points, but not 50. They tried to double-team me, she said, adding, “They did that in high school. All you’d hear was ‘get on number two.’”

This isn’t the only double-digit game Ms. Johnson has had in recent weeks. In the December 5 game against Springfield Technical Community College, she scored 38 points. She’s been such a standout that a scout for Worcester State University talked to her after the game.

“She carries the offense, which is a hard thing to do,” Mr. Kupec said. “Dee Dee can play after here at a four-year school for sure.”

This year’s women’s basketball team is a young team, with a few players who have never played the game. They look to Ms. Johnson for guidance.

“I like to stay positive and motivate them,” she said.

“We are trying to build a team and Dee Dee is excellent in helping us with that goal,” Mr. Kupec said.

A lifelong basketball player, who comes from a family of 10 siblings (she is the second to the youngest) with a father who was a star ball player, Ms. Johnson has had a basketball in her hands from a very young age. She attended Keefe Technical High School in Framingham, where she excelled in sports, particularly basketball. She made varsity all four years starting as either shooting guard or point guard. She also was on the school’s varsity track and volleyball teams.

After graduating high school Ms. Johnson was accepted to Florida State University and Johnson and Wales for culinary arts; however, she ultimately decided to hold off going to college for a while. In fall 2019, she enrolled at QCC as a criminal justice major.

“I had wanted to do something in the criminal justice field. At first I thought police officer or EMT, then learned about teen corrections and decided I wanted to help teens. I’ve seen kids who have encountered hard times and I want to help them do better,” she said.

When asked why basketball is such an important part of her life, Ms. Johnson said, “It’s something that keeps your mind off other things and I just love the game.”

For those who might want to play for the Lady Wyverns, she suggests giving it a try.

 “It’s better to see if like it than to never know,” she said.

To learn more about the women’s basketball team, visit QCC Student Athletics.