Former West LA College Student Makes USC Hall of Fame

The University of Southern California announced the 16 members of its 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees on Wednesday, and perhaps most notable among them is former West Los Angeles College wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson.

Johnson's fellow inductees are marching band director Art Bartner, swimmer Lindsay Benko, sportswriter Steve Bisheff, offensive tackle Tony Boselli, tailback Clarence Davis, tennis player Barbara Hallquist, athletics administrator Barbara Hedges, water polo player/swimmer Bob Hughes, volleyball player Bryan Ivie, baseball pitcher Randy Johnson, golfer Jill McGill, basketball player Tina Thompson, men's basketball coach Forrest Twogood, sprinter Quincy Watts and linebacker Adrian Young.  

"This, our 10th class, is an outstanding group of Trojan greats— Olympians, All-Americans, national champions and sports icons—who have played an important role in USC’s athletic history," said USC athletic director Pat Haden, a member of the 2003 class. "They’ll join our first nine classes of Hall of Famers to form a real Who’s Who in USC sports."

Among the most talented and exciting wide receivers in USC history, Johnson was a unanimous first team All-American in 1995 after setting a school and Pac-10 record for pass receptions in a season with 102. He finished his two-year Trojans career with 168 catches (the seventh most all-time) and had 17 games of 100+ receiving yards (including an NCAA-record 12 in a row). He was named Most Valuable Player of both the 1995 Cotton Bowl (eight catches for 222 yards and three touchdowns) and the 1996 Rose Bowl (12 catches for 216 yards and one touchdown).

The two-time All-Pac-10 first team selection won the Pop Warner Award and was the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year in 1995 when he finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting. He had 66 catches as a junior in 1994.

The highly vocal, sometimes controversial receiver was not afraid to speak his mind, but his talent on the field was undeniable. He was selected No. 1 overall in the 1996 NFL draft by the New York Jets, for whom he played from 1996-99. He joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and helped lead them to a 48-21 victory in Super Bowl XXXVII.

Johnson finished his 11-year pro career with the Dallas Cowboys (2004-06) and Carolina Panthers (2006). He is now a television sports commentator, businessman, restaurateur, real estate investor, wrote an autobiography titled "Just Give Me the Damn Ball" and runs a seven-on-seven high school team called the 1925 All-Stars as part of a bigger venture called Big Man On Campus.

Johnson lettered in football and track at Dorsey High in Los Angeles, earning first team all-state honors in football his senior year. Johnson then went on to West LA College, where he worked with track and field coach Milton Qualls extensively to improve his speed. Johnson was an All-American at the Culver City campus, earning a scholarship to USC.

"If it was not for West Los Angeles College, the opportunity at that particular time would not have been in place for me to go ahead, get a scholarship to USC or any other university," Johnson said. "It was a fun atmosphere, there was plenty to do on and off the field and acdemically it was as challenging as any university. You were able to get your AA degree, enroll in a four-year university and live your dream."

Tickets to the induction dinner June 12, 2012 at USC's Galen Center are available by calling USC's Athletic Department at (213) 740-4155.

Click here to watch a video of Keyshawn Johnson talking about his days at West LA College.