Southern Miss Guard Jakayla Johnson Finalist for Gillom Trophy

Jackson, Miss. — University of Southern Mississippi graduate student Jakayla Johnson has been named a finalist for the 2026 C-Spire Gillom Trophy, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. The award honors Mississippi’s top women’s college basketball student-athlete each season.

Johnson, a native of Clinton, Miss., is the sixth Lady Eagle to earn a Gillom Trophy finalist spot. She previously earned All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team honors and was a finalist for the Lilly Women’s College All-Star Game in Phoenix, Ariz. Johnson led Southern Miss this season with 15.6 points per game, 483 total points, a 39.2% three-point percentage, 137 made free throws, and 43 steals.

The other finalists are Mississippi State freshman forward Madison Francis of Lancaster, N.Y., and Ole Miss senior forward Cotie McMahon of Dayton, Ohio. The finalists were selected by a statewide panel of media members.

The awards will be presented at a luncheon at Golden Moon Casino in Choctaw, Miss., on April 15. Proceeds benefit the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, which celebrates Mississippi’s sports heritage through exhibits and interactive displays. The Gillom Trophy is part of the Outstanding Player Awards Series, which includes other college athlete honors such as the Conerly Trophy for football and the Ferriss Trophy for baseball.

Southern Miss has had several finalists for the Gillom Trophy since its inception in 2008, including Jamierra Faulkner, who won the award in 2014. Johnson’s selection continues the university’s tradition of recognizing top women’s basketball talent across the state.

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