Local prep stars Johnson, McGhee officially sign with Cavaliers

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Posted on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022, 5:03 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

uva basketballVirginia women’s basketball head coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton has announced that Olivia McGhee and Kymora Johnson have signed National Letters of Intent and will join the Cavaliers for the 2023-24 season.

The recruiting class is ranked No. 13 nationally by ESPN.com as of Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m ecstatic about our 2023 recruiting class,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “Both of these talented young ladies understand what it means to have Virginia on their chest and will take great pride in that. They are coming to UVA to write their own individual stories and to be a part of something special. They understand the great heights this storied program has been to, as well as where it is currently in transit back to. The icing on the cake is that they will be able to do what they love in front of all their families and friends.”

Charlottesville native Johnson, a 5-7 point guard, is a five-star recruit ranked No. 24 in the 2023 espnW HoopGurlz recruiting rankings and attends St. Anne’s-Belfield school less than a mile from John Paul Jones Arena. The 2022 Gatorade Virginia Player of the Year averaged 21.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 4.5 steals per game last year as the Saints advanced to the state championship game. The two-time VISAA Division I All-State honoree also helped lead her West Virginia Thunder AAU team to the Girls’ Under Armour National Championship last summer.

“I’m super excited to officially welcome ‘Mo’ home,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “She is another high-character kid who is a giver. Her grind and dedication to her craft are impressive. She leads by example, especially from the point guard spot but always remains a team player. She is a crafty athlete who can score, facilitate, and defend at an elite level. Her pace and motor are unmatched. Dynamic point guards like Mo are hard to find. She will impact our team and our culture on and off the court. I can’t wait to work with her. The future is extremely bright for her.”

McGhee, a 6-2 guard from Mineral, Va., is a four-star recruit ranked No. 45 in the 2023 espnW HoopGurlz recruiting rankings. She played for three years at Louisa County High before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for her senior season. She led the Lions to the program’s first Class 4 State Championship her sophomore season, averaging 22.8 points and 11. 5 rebounds per game and was named the Central Virginia Girls Basketball Player of the Year. As a freshman, she led the Jefferson District in scoring and was named second-team all-state.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to officially welcome ‘O’ home,” Agugua-Hamilton said. “O is a high-character, kind-hearted student-athlete whose talents will shine on and off the floor here at UVA.  She fits our culture and already feels comfortable in it. She is selfless by nature, putting her teammates first, but her game is rare. She’s a 6’3 guard that can pass and score at all three levels, including a phenomenal three-point shot. I’m so excited to work with her as I know the sky is the limit for this kid.”