Basketball prodigy praises Duluth Salvation Army hoops program
Chloe Johnson of Duluth, Minn., is one of best high school basketball players in America.
The first time she ever played competitively was at a Salvation Army Rookie Basketball Association (RBA) game with her older brother, Brooks, when she was a little girl.
“I got to play in that game because my brother’s team didn’t have enough kids,” recalled Chloe, now a junior at Duluth Marshall High School. “My brother and his friends were super nice and trying to get me a basket. When I did score, it was the best basketball moment of my life.”
Since then, Chloe has experienced many more incredible basketball moments – such as helping lead her high school team to the championship game of the 2026 Minnesota State 7AA Finals. The 6-foot guard has been playing varsity ball since the 7th grade and is currently ranked by ESPN as the second-best player in the country for the Class of 2028. She has scored more than 3,000 points during her high school career, with Division 1 offers from every top collegiate women’s basketball program in the United States.
Chloe credits the RBA – a year-round Salvation Army league for Duluth-area kids in grades K-8 – for being a key component in shaping her into the player she is today, and the incredible person she has become.
“I still remember all of the lessons I learned in the RBA,” explained Chloe (pictured during an RBA practice in 2018). “I remember how we would have a lesson about life at the end of every practice.”
One of the most critical life lessons she learned is the importance of helping people in need. She first learned this truth during a food drive held by one of her RBA teams.
“Back then, I didn’t even know what a food shelf was,” she admitted. “It was important for me as a little kid to see that not everyone has enough food. That food drive experience taught me a lot about how blessed I am and how I can help other people.”
That is exactly why the RBA was created nearly 40 years ago: To use basketball as a way to teach kids about God’s love.
“We can learn the fruit of the spirit of God through basketball,” said RBA director Kris Mallett. “Although we don’t push our religious beliefs on anybody, what parent doesn’t want their kid to learn the character qualities of love, joy and peace, through teamwork, loyalty and hard work?”
Chloe’s parents would agree with that. Greg and Heather Johnson have always taught Chloe and her brother Brooks – who now plays basketball for the University of Minnesota Duluth – that their worth does not depend on their performance on the basketball court. It has more to do with their character.
“The best part about the RBA is the weekly lessons they have the coaches teach the teams,” affirmed Heather, a former RBA coach herself. “The kids learn about friendship, leadership, being a good teammate, having confidence, and doing what’s right when no one else is watching. That’s really what sets the RBA apart.”
Other former RBA players also hold that sentiment – including Anders Broman, Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer for boys high school basketball, with 5,119 points. The first point he ever scored was during an RBA game in the 1st grade.
“It’s a great league to start in,” Anders told The Salvation Army in 2013. “It teaches the fundamentals of basketball and being a good person. That’s something you’ll carry with you the rest of your life.”
The RBA has been teaching Duluth-area kids about basketball and life since 1987. It is the only basketball program in the area for kids under grade 5, offering seasonal leagues, clinics, and 3-on-3 opportunities. Some seasons are attended by up to 450 players and more than 100 volunteer coaches. (Learn more about the RBA or register.)
Bright future
Chloe’s ultimate goal is to play basketball in the WNBA. She’s well on her way to making that dream a reality, as she continues to garner national attention for her “size, instincts and floor vision” and “great pull-up jumper,” according to ESPN.
This summer she’s been playing basketball for the All Iowa Attack – the same AAU organization that WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark played for throughout junior high and high school.
Chloe’s favorite WNBA player is Paige Bueckers, a Minnesota native and star player for the Dallas Wings.
“Paige makes the right decisions and she makes it look so effortless,” Chloe said. “She makes everyone around her better and she is not self-centered. I like everything about her game.”
Only time will tell whether Chloe gets drafted by a WNBA team. But it seems inevitable, given her amazing talent, positive attitude, and high level of maturity.
“I try not to get ahead of myself, so right now I’m focused on getting a little bit better every day,” Chloe said. “In the end, the lessons I learned through the RBA and through basketball are really important to me. It’s important that people know there’s more to life than basketball – staying true to yourself and being who God made you to be are the most important things.”