“Tessa Johnson cooking!” LeBron James would say of the freshman. A 19-point performance in a championship game had called for it! Johnson recorded her career-high, and South Carolina went on to win the National title for the second time in 3 years. She’d also become the first freshman since Breanna Stewart to lead her team in scoring in the NCAA national championship game. The young talent shined the brightest that day, ticking off all that work.
But none of this would be possible without her family. So, who are Jemel and Danielle Johnson? Let’s take a closer look at the people behind Tessa’s success.
Who are Tessa Johnson’s parents? What do they do for a living?
Jemel and Danielle Johnson have played a huge role in shaping Tessa. They aren’t ones to seek the spotlight, but their impact is clear.
Jemel, her father, was the one who introduced the star guard to the game. “I have to thank my dad. He’s the one who brought the game to me. He’s the one that taught me the game,” she reveals. It was a given, considering Jemel is a basketball coach. And he doesn’t go by conventional means. He believes in letting kids learn naturally rather than forcing strict training methods. As he told the Post and Courier, “Kids are always better when they do things naturally, rather than if somebody trained them.”
That philosophy became the foundation of Tessa’s game. He didn’t just teach her how to dribble or shoot—he taught her to see the game, to trust her instincts, and to love playing.
Danielle, her mother, has been just as influential. She understands Tessa better than anyone. The competitor. The perfectionist. The kid who always wanted to be the best at whatever she did. In a 2024 interview, Danielle shared, “Tessa always wanted to be the best at whatever the rest were doing. Getting better every day is her motivation.”
Together, Jemel and Danielle built a home filled with discipline, hard work, and love for the game.
Does Tessa Johnson have any siblings?
Yes, Tessa comes from a big, basketball-loving family. She has three sisters—Rae, Claudia, and Olivia—and one brother, Jeremiah. Sports run deep in the Johnson household.
Her oldest sister, Rae, was the first to make a name for herself in college basketball. She played at Iowa State and left her mark at St. Michael-Albertville High School. During the 2020-21 season, she helped Iowa State pull off big wins against Texas Tech, Baylor, and Omaha.
For Tessa, Rae wasn’t just a sister—she was a role model. “Growing up, I looked up to Rae. I just wanted to be like her,” she once said. Watching Rae succeed only fueled Tessa’s own ambitions.
Meanwhile, their brother, Jeremiah, is carving out his own path in high school basketball at St. Michael-Albertville, following in his sisters’ footsteps.
What is Tessa Johnson’s parents’ nationality?
Tessa Johnson was born and raised in Albertville, USA, by Danielle and Jemel Johnson who are both Americans.
Their values, their unwavering support, and their belief in hard work shaped Tessa into the competitor she is today. With them in her corner, she’s not just playing basketball—she’s making a name for herself, one game at a time.
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