WISE - - Kalee Johnson recently completed her collegiate basketball career at UVA Wise — a journey that spanned six years, three head coaches and a global pandemic that impacted her studies and athletic career.
By the time Johnson's time at UVA Wise was complete, the Elizabethton, Tenn. native had completed a degree in education, a minor in communications, and secured a job as a first-grade teacher with Wise County Public Schools while off the court.
Johnson's UVA Wise story began as a junior at Happy Valley High School when then UVA Wise Head Coach Kristin Kunzman recruited her.
"I was a junior in high school and was recruited by [Kristin] Kunzman," stated Johnson. "I was here a year with her and finished my career with Jamie Cluesman; I committed to UVA Wise because I knew it was a place I wanted to be because it wasn't that far away from home, and it felt like somewhere I could make a home."
After enduring a pair of coaching changes early in her career, Johnson flourished under Cluesman, leaving the program as one of its all-time greats. The forward tallied 1,388 points, earned All-South Atlantic Conference accolades, finished 10th in school history in scoring and finished as the school's all-time leader in free throw percentage at .813.
Her team had plenty of success as well. During the 2020-2021 season, Johnson and her teammates finished 15-5 in a season that saw the program establish a new school record for consecutive wins with 10. The Cavaliers finished the season 13-4 in SAC games before securing the program's first postseason victory as a member of the league with an 85-63 win over Queens University of Charlotte in the league tournament.
The season had UVA Wise in contention for the NCAA Tournament and was punctuated by an 80-72 win over nationally-ranked Tusculum University in the regular season finale. That night, Johnson cemented herself as an all-league player by scoring 28 points and grabbing 15 rebounds while playing all 40 minutes in her team's win.
With COVID-19 reducing the number of games played by NCAA institutions, student-athletes were granted an extra year of eligibility if they chose to take it. Having already completed degree requirements for her education degree, Johnson returned for a sixth season adding a communication studies minor to her resume.
"I had already graduated and received my teaching license, so I was up in the air on what to do," Johnson commented when evaluating her options for returning to school. "I came back to Wise, was a substitute teacher three days a week and picked up a minor in communications."
The idea of becoming a teacher was always present in Johnson's mind, stating she knew that would be her career path from her early days as a kindergarten student.
"I've always wanted to be a teacher since I was little, I was one of those kids that cried every day going into kindergarten," Johnson commented when reflecting on her early days as a student. "I had a great kindergarten teacher who helped me get through that and since my kindergarten year I told my parents that I wanted to be a teacher and it has never been a question for me."
While Johnson was adding to her academic portfolio and gaining experience as a substitute teacher, the basketball team was happy to have her back in the fold.
Over the course of the season, she scored in double-figures 19 times as she finished the season averaging 14.3 points per game while leading the squad in rebounding at 7.5 per game and steals with two a contest.
As was the case in the previous season, Johnson saved her best work for when her team needed it most. UVA Wise wrapped up the regular season at home against nationally-ranked Catawba and behind Johnson the team defeated its second-ranked foe at home in two seasons.
Against Catawba, Johnson fired in 23 points, grabbed 17 rebounds, finished with five steals, and blocked two shots as her team scored a 75-59 triumph. Playing on her Senior Day, Johnson never left the floor, logging all 40 minutes to finish her home career with a win.
"I knew that was the last time I would play in the Convocation Center, I just wanted to leave it all on the floor," she mentioned when asked about her final home game. "That was the second time a team had came in ranked and we just wanted to knock them out of their role."
With her days as an athlete behind her, Johnson is ready to transition to a teacher where she feels she can use her experience as an athlete and as a student to assist the next generation.
"As a teacher in the classroom, you have to realize there will be days where kids are going through some things and you may have to put the education piece aside and just be there for that kid," Johnson commented when looking ahead to her future role. "My time at UVA Wise has really helped me be able to reach out to kids; I am a first-generation college student; it was not always said that I would go to college or make it through college but now I can help kids be whoever they want to be."
Having recently accepted a position at Wise Primary School, Johnson will fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher this fall.
