South Carolina Basketball: Gamecock guard named SEC Player of the Week

South Carolina basketball has been the most impressive team in the country through the season’s first two weeks. A 4-0 start has been highlighted by two top-15 blowout wins and a ridiculous 69-point beatdown of the rival Clemson Tigers.

After the first week of the season, post player Kamilla Cardoso was named the SEC’s Player of the Week, and week 2 saw the conference honor another Gamecock with the honor.

One-half of Coach Staley’s two-point guard system, Raven Johnson is co-SEC Player of the Week, along with Ole Miss forward Madison Scott.

After recording the second-most assists in a single game in program history (17) and setting a career-high in rebounding against Clemson, she then set a career-high in scoring the next game (18) and steals (5) against South Dakota State. She also had her 4th-straight game with at least 5 assists to start the 2023-2024 season.

Johnson has come a long way from last season. While she showed flashes as a redshirt freshman, especially as a fastbreak player, now in her third year in the program, Johnson is a more complete player. She has become one of the team’s better jump shooters, is a true leader at the point guard position, and has improved her on-ball defense.

Much of Johnson’s improvement so far this year can be attributed to her increase in confidence and comfort level on the court.  She referred to this season as a “revenge season” for her and her South Carolina basketball teammates because none of the Gamecocks were satisfied with their Final Four loss to Iowa last season.

So far, so good for USC as the program attempts to win its 3rd national title since 2017 (no other school has won more than one championship during the same span). Back at the #1 spot in the AP poll, the Gamecocks are once again queens of college basketball, and Raven Johnson is a big reason why.