Minnesota's Own: True Freshman Tessa Johnson (who?) led the national champion Gamecocks in scoring yesterday...

Free link to the Star Tribune's profile of her last year as the Metro Area's girls basketball player of the year, where she led St. Michael-Albertville to another state championship.  (Like Lindsay Whalen, she's a feisty guard...)

Introducing the girls basketball Metro Player of the Year: Tessa Johnson of St.Michael-Albertville

Johnson's admirers come in a wide range, but youth players in her community are especially prominent. 

In the minutes after leading St. Michael-Albertville to its third girls basketball state tournament berth in four years, Tessa Johnson was difficult to locate amid the throng of fans, parents and well-wishers.

A 5-10 senior guard, Johnson had delivered another stellar performance in a season of many, scoring 23 first-half points and spending the second half orchestrating the Knights offense in a 34-point victory over Elk River in the Class 4A, Section 8 final.

Now Johnson was crouched in the middle of the crowded gym floor, pen in hand, signing her name on dollar bills being offered to her.

This was not remuneration for a job well done. She was signing autographs for a legion of preteen girls. Johnson took the time to personalize each one. Her fans' common response was "Thank you, Tessa." Also common: "See you in the WNBA."

Maybe so. For now, Johnson is the Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year in girls basketball.

"It's usually shoes or jerseys or shirts they want me to sign," Johnson said, chuckling. "I think I've only signed money once before." 

Good players can step up and help win championships like that.  Don't let ego and attention -- or even an abundance of benjamins? -- obscure that fact?  Play on... the game is never-ending.