Flaujae Johnson carving out special legacy with LSU and rap career as she eyes WNBA stardom

Flau’jae Johnson has been under the microscope since she was 12 years old.Whether on the court as a guard at LSU or on the mic as a rapper with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation, the 20-year-old millionaire isn’t bothered by the constant glare of the spotlight because she’s well-equipped to handle it.

“I think it’s kind of just like the same thing that I’ve been doing all my life, since I was 12 years old [on reality TV show competitions],” Johnson told The Post in a recent interview about how she weathers the added attention following the Tigers’ national championship run in 2023.The SEC Freshman of the Year in 2023, Johnson – entering her junior year in Baton Rouge – is prepared to take on a larger role with coach Kim Mulkey’s Tigers following the departures of star forward Angel Reese, currently in her rookie WNBA season with the Chicago Sky, and point guard Hailey Van Lith, now with TCU after transferring following the 2023-24 season.“Yeah, the spotlight will be on me,” she said, “but that’s why basketball is a team sport.Like I say, I’m on my team to be there.

I have to lead them.I’m the captain.

“I have to lift them up.So it, for me is just like learning how to just be inclusive.

Like they say, the good players, they’re good, but the great players, they help bring people up with them.So like, that’s what I want to do, like have to build my team up because I want to do something special at LSU.”The spotlight has been shining bright on Johnson for some time.At age 12, she appeared on Jermaine Dupri’s “The Rap Game” reality show, which centered on finding the next big rap star.Johnson captured the public’s attention two years later as a contestant on “America’s Got Talent,” receiving the golden buzzer — which permits a judge to send talent to live shows automatically — at age 14 in 2018.Now building a legacy that spans sports and entertainment, Johnson envisions more championship chapters to her story.“… I ...