Former Platte County basketball standout Taylor Johnson called it a career this past week after another troublesome knee injury. Johnson ended up playing just 1½ seasons at Creighton, a Division I program and current member of the Big East. Two separate torn ACLs wiped out her 2013 and 2014 seasons. Doctors recently discovered a cyst in her left knee that would require another surgery and more rehab, and she opted to retire rather than endure another lengthy rehab process.
A four-year starter at Platte County, Johnson played during the most successful era in the program’s history. The Pirates advanced to the Class 4 quarterfinals in 2008 during her freshman season and won the only state title in school history the following season.
Johnson ended up with nearly 1,800 points in her career, and she set a school record by averaging 20.5 points per game her junior season. That production dipped to 17.5 points per game as a senior, but she still earned Missouri Basketball Coaches Association and Missouri state media all-state honors in both 2010 and 2011.
Also a standout in soccer and volleyball, Johnson also owns the records for 3-point field goals made in a season (62) and a career (190).
Johnson signed with Creighton to continue her career and appeared in 30 games off the bench for the Blue Jays during the 2012 season, averaging 5 points per game. She is the only freshman in program history to make four 3-point field goals in back-to-back games and produced a career-high 15 points in a win against North Carolina State that season.
Johnson appeared in 15 games this season for Creighton this season, averaging 3.9 points per game before discovering the injury.
Older sister Morgan Johnson played at Platte County from 2006-2009 and holds program records for career points, rebounds and blocked shots. The 6-foot-4 center was the star of the state title team and went on to play four years at Iowa before a brief stint as a professional overseas.
Morgan Johnson returned to Platte County this year and currently serves as an assistant coach to Chris Stubbs for the girls basketball team.