Airman selected for basketball competition

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  At 6 feet, 1 inch tall, Airman 1st Class Talia Johnson stands head and shoulders above her peers on the basketball court. 

The Airman was recently selected to represent the Air Force and the United States Armed Forces at the 2009 Tournament of the Stars National Championship, Aug. 6-10, in Lake Charles, La. 

Playing basketball is a way of life for Airman Johnson, who competed at the high school level in Sardis, Ga. Her prowess earned her a basketball scholarship to Jacksonville (Fla.) University where she majored in exercise science. She contemplated turning pro and playing in Europe, but wasn't sure her skills were at that level of play. 

"I was uncertain what I wanted to do after college, but thought about either nursing school or becoming a physician's assistant," she said. "I thought the Air Force was a good idea so I could pay for school." 

Away from the court, Airman Johnson is a medical technician in the 96th Medical Group's Family Medicine clinic. She will start back to school in August to finish four prerequisite classes before compiling her package for the Air Force's physician assistant program which could lead to commissioning as a first lieutenant. 

Airman Johnson spends her evenings on the basketball court, honing her skills as she prepares for the tournament. The power forward/center was one of 12 players who survived the Air Force camp to compete at an all-service tournament in Tennessee. She emerged as one of four Air Force players to advance to the Armed Forces team. 

It's been a long journey but her passion for the game she "really enjoys" keeps her going. 

"If you have dedication, the discipline will come," she said. 

Airman Johnson is also a member of Eglin's women's team. Assistant coach, Staff Sgt. Anthoine Corpening, said her intensity and ability to play multiple positions is well above a lot of others. 

"Her knowledge of the game is exceptional," he said. "I think she tends to underestimate her abilities, but she definitely can compete at that level of play." 

Airman Johnson hopes to compete at least one more year but knows she'll have to put her competitive play "on the back burner" to concentrate more on her military career and future in the medical field. 

"I'm getting older, but I'll still come to the gym and play pick-up games," she said.