Hayley Johnson spent most of the second day of her recruiting visit in Laramie recovering from a bout of altitude sickness. The Sunnyvale, California native had never been as high as 7220 feet before, and her hometown was barely over 100 feet above sea level.
It's safe to say the adjustment wasn't all that easy.
"On my visit, I was sick the entire second day," Johnson said. "I couldn't even eat because of the elevation."
Yet, that still didn't sway the San Jose City College (SJCC) transfer from committing to continue her collegiate basketball career at Wyoming. Despite her first impression being tainted by the massive jump in elevation, Johnson knew that UW was going to be the place for her.
"I think the main thing was how professional it was," Johnson said of her decision to transfer to UW. "All the coaches, the environment, the facilities and everything, it just ran so smoothly and I got a really good impression from it."
Including an entirely new climate, Johnson knew exactly what she would be getting herself into when signing with head coach Heather Ezell and the Cowgirls. Ezell and her staff took tape from last year and used that to demonstrate just how well Johnson would fit into the Cowgirls' system, setting a clear expectation of just how much of an impact Johnson could make on the team.
That, alongside the esteemed home environment and facilities at UW created an offer Johnson couldn't say no to.
"On my visit, they created the tape where they put together pieces of last year's games and where I could fit in their offense and defense. That really persuaded me," Johnson said.
Johnson started all but one contest she appeared in during her two years at SJCC, stringing together an impressive sophomore season where she averaged 19.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as the team's second leading scorer and leading rebounder.
Her play at SJCC caught the eye of UW's staff, who were impressed with Johnson's motor and eye for the ball—so much so that Ezell hasn't even taken notice of Johnson's struggles with the elevation through the opening weeks of the team's summer practices.
"For us as coaches, we have been really impressed with Hayley and her motor," Ezell said. "So, when she says I'm struggling with altitude, we don't see it. She's just got a feel for the ball, and when there's a shot going up it seems to always be Hayley that finds a way to get a hand on a rebound.
"The athleticism that she brings is really exciting for us in our offense."
The jump from the junior college level to Division-I may seem daunting on paper, but it's a challenge that Johnson is taking head-on. After two years at SJCC, Johnson has not only seen herself grow as a basketball player, but a person as well—and she knows that will only continue now that she is in Laramie.
"I know I'll definitely have to put in the work and continue giving it my all, and I know that the results will show and I'll be able to get better," Johnson said.
Johnson will still have to take some time to adjust to the altitude in her new home, as she noted the altitude sickness continued to somewhat impair her during the opening weeks of practice, which began on July 6 for the Cowgirls.
However, playing under the bright lights in front of a prideful home crowd is certainly enough motivation for her to battle through it. Before long, playing at 7220 feet will just be second nature for her.
