Georgia Southern redshirt senior forward Eden Johnson is a sizable presence on the court for the Eagles, and she is making her presence known throughout the Sun Belt both offensive and defensively in what has become a career season.
Her basketball journey, however, almost never began.
As the daughter of Mack and Merry Johnson, both of whom were collegiate basketball players, Eden was fated to be an athlete – but in her words, basketball was not her first love growing up.
“I played every sport,” Eden says. “I played soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball – and basketball was my least favorite. But I loved volleyball and I think I could have played college volleyball. But because my dad pushed me so hard, eventually I fell in love with it. Basketball just fit better.”
Born in Ann Arbor, Mich., Eden spent most of her high school years in Michigan, playing for Huron HS before her and her family moved to Florida for her senior season. But before she transferred to Haines City HS, Eden had already made up mind on where she was going to play collegiate basketball.
“I committed to Fordham as a sophomore,” Eden says about her move to Florida. “I already knew what I was going to do, so I went out there to just have a fun senior basketball season. I had known one of my teammates before I transferred there so it was just fun.”
Fordham was a team flying high – the Rams went 25-9 during the 2018-19 season, winning the Atlantic 10 tournament and advancing to the NCAA Championships that year. So when Eden joined the team as a true freshman in 2019-20, the team was loaded with upperclassmen.
“It was a good experience for me, but it was very tough,” Eden says. “They had just come off of a championship, so they were a really good team. I just don’t think I fit well in their program. My style fits Georgia Southern more, where we are quick and go up and down the court. Fordham was more structured, seinor-oriented and I was a freshman, just a baby.”
When Eden entered the transfer portal, the first coach contact her was then-Georgia Southern assistant coach Deont’a McChester.
“I knew Coach D back when I was 14 years old playing AAU ball,” Eden says. “He wanted me to go to Tennessee State so bad. I had to give him that call, ‘I’m sorry coach, I committed.’ But when I was in the portal, he was the first person to reach out to me and tell me to come on down to Georgia Southern. I reached out to Coach Howard, and I got to talk to her. She was wonderful, and still is wonderful! I gave them a chance, I walked on and it all worked out.”
Eden has increased her minutes each season with the Eagles, starting her freshman year averaging 17 minutes per game, to this year averaging 25.2 minutes per game. Her scoring average (7.4) and her rebounding average (5.7) in 2023-24 are career bests, and Eden is quick to give credit to her teammates for helping her improve her game.
“It’s been the people,” Eden says. “Coming in as a freshman with five to six other freshmen, we’ve really helped each other and pushed each other on the court and off it. Just seeing everyone else grow, pushes you to grow, and I think we really work well together.”
What most have seen from Eden this season, however, is that she is charging up the all-time shot blocking chart at Georgia Southern. Before Wednesday’s game against Georgia State, Eden was tied for fourth all-time with 79 career blocked shots.
“I didn’t even know about that [ranking on the shot blocking chart] until someone posted about it on social media,” Eden says. “It was exciting and now it’s motivated me. I want to be first now! But really, I just try and get into the right spot and deter their shot. They’ve just added up over time.”
When asked about her future, Eden was quick to mention that she has plenty of options.
“I have another year of eligibility,” Eden says. “I think it would be a mistake if I didn’t use every year of eligibility that I have. I want a master’s degree, I see myself leaving here with two degrees. After that, I have options. I’m down to play overseas, that would be a dream to experience another culture, but also I have a big opportunity with Coca-Cola in Savannah. It’s whatever speaks to me when I’m done here. I’m just going to follow my heart.”