December 2, 2025 - Hip-hop artist and LSU basketball star Flau’jae Johnson, a former standout for Sprayberry High School, made an appearance at her alma mater on the Friday before Thanksgiving. Her return to the Yellow Jackets nest wasn’t simply a holiday visit with former coaches and teachers. Her homecoming was a chance to add a new track to the place where some of her earliest beats were recorded. It was a chance to give back to the school that served as a springboard for her stardom by providing a remix of the space that helped her compose her rise. 

“Man, it feels good to be back home,” Johnson said before the girls’ locker room remodel was revealed. “These were the best years of my life. Just growing so much and learning so much here. Sprayberry is beautiful.”

“Thinking of a master plan / master fan / this ain′t no accident / I'm in my bag again” (lyrics from Flau’jae Johnson’s song “Master Plan” from the album “Best Of Both Worlds (Deluxe)”, © 2024 Roc Nation)

The Remix of a High School Journey: From Baseline to Bass Line

Johnson’s world has never been about a singular path. Hers is one of mixing different steps toward success. Much like a studio producer layering tracks, her high school years were built on a blend of rhythm and grit. The bounce of a basketball, the pulse of music, and the determined discipline of academics were the soundtrack of her pre-collegiate experience. If traditional classes at Sprayberry High School were the melody, her Cobb Virtual Academy online experience was the harmony that brought the whole song together. Now, in an expression of generosity to the next generation, she is giving back to her alma mater to encourage new students to craft their own mix of ambition, purpose, and possibility.

“I want these students to know that anything is possible,” conveyed the multitalented Johnson. “I walked these same halls, you know what I'm saying? And I played in these same gyms. I did all of that, and I went and chased my dreams, and they can do it, too.”

“I had to make a statement / this history in the making / You got a dream you should chase it / stay down and stick to the basics” (“Master Plan”)

If her life were a rap track, musical expression would be her intro. Johnson has been a rap artist since she was a child. She appeared on Season 13 of the television show “America’s Got Talent” when she was only 14 and was awarded the golden buzzer—a direct ticket to the live shows. She has performed at the ESPY Awards, collaborated with well-known hip-hop artists such as Lil Wayne, and signed a multi-million-dollar distribution deal with Jay Z’s Roc Nation Entertainment company.

Her hook, though, was provided on the court. As successful as her musical career has been, she is probably more widely known as a basketball star. She graduated as the all-time leading scorer (male or female) at Sprayberry. She averaged 32.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game and was named a McDonald’s All-American. After high school, she joined the LSU basketball program, where she won a National Championship as a freshman. Considered by many as one of the top female college players, she won a gold medal with USA Basketball at the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile. She will likely be a lottery pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Still, with all that success and despite all the commitments that come with that, she took the time to shower blessings on her former high school team. One might call this the bridge to her song.

A New Track for the Next Generation

“Flau’jae has come back to give back to Sprayberry,” Athletic Director Dr. Nathan Autry said as the school prepared a special pep rally in her honor. “She teamed up with Meta to redesign our girls’ locker room. It's always good to reconnect with those who walked our hallways as young adults and have them back in the building. It's special to keep that connection with those who have gone on to do bigger things.”

The locker room redesign displaced the current girls’ team for three weeks. However, when the team was finally guided by Flau’jae into the new “Big ‘4’ Locker Room”, named in honor of Johnson’s high school number, there were no signs of discontent. The squeals of joy and excitement would have tested the decibel levels of most concerts. Their reaction was a blend of disbelief and celebration.

“It was like when you have your kids at Christmas, and you know it's about to be that time to open up presents,” Sprayberry Girls Basketball Head Coach Kellie Avery reported. “It was that kind of feeling, that kind of atmosphere. The girls had that look on their faces where they were in awe and excited. It was a great day to be a coach.”

The remodel featured new murals painted on the walls with inspiring quotes, salon chairs, full-length mirrors, a camera and ring light, and a lounge area featuring a large couch. Johnson also gifted each player with Meta glasses, duffel bags, hair extensions, Honey Pot skin products, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and Puma shoes. 

“I was anxious all day,” senior point guard Lenai Louie said after the team reentered and experienced their updated space. “I was very excited. I just wanted to see the locker room. My favorite part of the reveal was probably the little desk area that had the Polaroid camera and the ring light.”

The memory of the moment is something these girls will remember for a long time.

“Celebrating with my teammates in the moment,” senior guard Kaitlyn Williams reflected, “it’s something you can't really get back. Just jumping with them, yelling with them. Celebrating with Flau’jae and her family. It was just a great moment.”

Clearly, the remodel was a big hit.

“I always knew she had a big heart,” Coach Avery said with pride about her former player. “She had one when she was here. But to come back and spend the kind of money that she did, and get the sponsors that she did for us, is amazing. I think it speaks highly of who she is.”

“Man, I'm just trying to show the kids / that love can still exist / You′ll never win if you goin’ quit / keep swinging until you hit” (“Master Plan”)

“Miss Johnson is a big name around here,” Principal Dr. David Church said proudly. “And it's an exciting time to be at Sprayberry. We want to have a school and a facility that the community can be proud of. We have alumni coming back and making a donation. That's another piece of the puzzle to making a world-class facility for our kids. It inspires a lot of pride in the kids. When they walk in here, they know that this is all for them, and it really boosts their spirits and makes them feel happy to be here.”

Layering Tracks: Music, Hoops, and Education

Johnson’s traditional high school experience, spent on the court and in the hallways at Sprayberry, has held her up much like a strong verse. If so, the background vocals, an enhancement for the soloist, could be the time she spent taking courses with the Cobb Virtual Academy (CVA), an opportunity for independent online learning.

“As a world-class athlete, Flau’jae needed classes that fit into her busy life,” Cobb County School District Board Chair David Chastain noted when speaking of her CVA experience. “We educate around what students need and how they need it, for Flau’jae and the other 6,000 students who took a CVA class this year.”

Johnson credits her time at CVA with helping her navigate the demands of her education while juggling success in music and sports.

“Cobb Virtual helped me be more independent and learn to stay ahead,” she said when asked how she would encourage others to consider it. “I was such a busy kid. I had to learn how to prioritize. I had to learn time management. I had to become more intentional about what I was doing. So, I would tell parents, if you want your kid to learn some responsibility, that's the way to go.”

“Greatness, I defined it / waited on my assignment / It done start aligning / just the way God designed it / I’m thinking of a master plan / I′m thinking of a master plan” (“Master Plan”)

This mix brought her here. Different steps to success. The framework of Sprayberry and the independence of CVA provided the music producer with options. The pursuit of two high-achieving careers, simultaneously—music and basketball—is an endorsement of the mix. The gift of a locker room remodel can encourage the next generation to create their own mix of dreams. Flau’jae has done all of this flawlessly so far.

“The locker room for our team was so significant,” Johnson reasoned when asked about her charitable gift being a sign of success. “For me and my teammates, that’s where we really made a bond. The locker room was a big place for that. So, I wanted to spice it up for these girls a little bit. When you can impact people, that's real success.”

h/t nonbranded photos provided by LSU and USA Basketball