By Alex Riley, Special to SMUMustangs.com 

The silence will inevitably be broken. It could be a hum, or whispered words. Or, maybe someone just decides the stereo needs to come on.

Suddenly, the locker room chatter will fade away, replaced by the harmony of a dozen smiling young women, enjoying a musical interlude between the next workout or class.

And most often, Johnasia Cash is the first to let loose a high note. She can't help it. At least, that's the excuse she says with a laugh.

"On those days when everybody is feeling right, it's a sing along in the locker room," Cash said.
 
A Talent Found
All Jah-Vasia Poindexter wanted was something of her own, a respite from being big sister, and a moment to stand alone in the spotlight.

But when she lined up shoulder-to-shoulder with classmates in a middle school choral performance, Cash, her younger sister, was looking on.

"I was always so used to having my younger sister do what I wanted to do. It felt like I couldn't do anything by myself because every time I would turn around she was always doing the same thing I was doing. I was like, 'I thought music was my escape and she followed me there too!,' Poindexter joked. "For a long time, with that kid mentality, it was like I couldn't do anything on my own."

Poindexter had grown up listening to the voices of her grandmother and mother. She admired their tone. The notes made her want to find her own voice. In turn, she inspired Cash.

Watching her big sister perform was a lightbulb moment for the middle school-aged student. She vowed to join the chorus next year, but it didn't stop there.

Instruments soon became involved, including the viola, cello, saxophone, piano and drums, just to name a few. After that, it was musical theater. The first performance she took part in, High School Musical Junior, also happened to be one of her favorite movies.

"My favorite musical theater production I've ever done was Cinderella because I was an evil stepsister and it was so fun to be mean on purpose and not be in trouble for being mean," Cash said with a laugh. "When I was in sixth-grade I started singing all the time. It got so bad, my mom used to be like, 'Johnasia! Be quiet!' I was like, 'I can't help it.'"
 
Deciding on Dallas
Cash's vocal talent was often overshadowed by her basketball skills. At 6-foot-2, she physically stood out against almost every other competitor in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, as well as on the AAU circuit.

While traveling for a weekend tournament, she faced a team from Texas that SMU women's head coach Travis Mays happened to be watching.

He witnessed Cash become a "one-woman wrecking machine on the boards," and immediately wanted to see if she was committed. Once he found out she could be recruited, it was a matter of showing her that SMU was the place to be.

"Most young ladies you recruit from (far away), they aren't necessarily going to come all the way down to Texas. We thought that was going to be our biggest hurdle," Mays said. "We knew we had a great opportunity for her to play immediately or to play early, and we knew the academic excellence that was here at SMU. It was just a matter of convincing her and her family to come all the way down here to Dallas."

The campus, facilities and Mays' vision for her with the Mustangs were vital selling points. But it was the moment Mays showed up to a McKeesport High School game to watch her play that ultimately swayed Cash.

"It was crazy because I was like, 'No other coach has done this before.' He came, visited McKeesport and saw me play. He was in my area, so it was big for me," Cash said. "I didn't choose SMU. SMU chose me!"
 
Tone Setter
Cash walked into Mays' office before the start of the 2019-20 season with a statement to make – she was ready to lead.

Her first two years in Dallas were about learning. Year three has been about putting that knowledge into play.

As a freshman and sophomore, she often played understudy to Alicia Froling. The Australia native left an undeniable legacy at SMU, finishing first in career rebounds (1,154), blocks (203) and doubled-doubles (45), and third in points (1,523).

"I knew that someone was going to have to take on a huge part of that role that she had on this team, and I was willing to do that. I wanted to do that," Cash said. "I wanted to be that person that rebounded. I wanted to break her records. I wanted to be in her shoes because I knew those were going to be some big shoes to fill."

The work Mays saw in the summer verified that Cash wasn't just spouting lip service, she was ready to back it up with action. This season, she's averaging just under a double-double (10.6 points and 9.5 rebounds) per game with 24 starts in 25 games.

It's a great on-court example. But outside of basketball, she's showing others you can get more out of the student-athlete experience if you're willing to put in the work.

In addition to the games and training associated with basketball, plus the classwork required as a college student, Cash has managed to stay connected in the music scene. A musical theater minor, she's constantly honing her singing and acting skills. She even tried out and made the Bella Tones, SMU's women's a cappella group. Recently, they sang at the Cox Business School's 100th anniversary celebration.

"It makes me feel like I'm finally living my Pitch Perfect movie," she joked.
 
A Plan for the Future
Poindexter looks back and laughs. There was a time when she wanted music to be hers and hers alone.

Now?

"As I got older, I started to appreciate having my sister around," Poindexter said.

She'll graduate from the Los Angeles Film School this spring, while Cash has another year at SMU. And when college is over, the duo plan to get back together.

Poindexter has aspirations of being in the music industry, possibly as a  producer. When basketball is over, Cash wants to be her first client.

The duo writes songs together often, bouncing ideas around like longtime collaborators. Not that long ago, Poindexter was the inspiration for her sister. Now, she feels like Cash is doing the same for others.

"With her being a part of the music program and pursuing music and not being boxed in with sports, I think it's a great," she said. "I think it's a great example for other student-athletes who can see her and think, 'Well, I don't have to just do basketball or football or track. I can do other things and be known for other things.'"

As for Cash, she's focused on making the end of this season and her final year in school count. With no seniors on the roster, she'll get the chance to be a leader once again in 2020-21.

She hopes to get her master's degree before leaving Dallas, break a few records along the way and help SMU women's basketball get back to the postseason.

And after college, if there's an opportunity to continue playing, she'll look into it. Or, she might sign on with her sister and chase those musical dreams.

High note or high post, Cash has proven she's prepared for what's next.

"Everybody knows her talent and ability on the basketball floor, but the thing is, she's extremely talented off the floor," Mays said. "Most people that have hidden talents, a lot of times don't want to express them, but I don't think that's the case for Johnasia. That's why I think the sky's the limit for a young lady like her."