Raven Johnson’s college career will come to an end at the end of the South Carolina Gamecocks’ NCAA Tournament run. They’re currently in the Final Four and are set to face the UConn Huskies tomorrow at PHX Arena in Phoenix.
Johnson has nothing left to prove. She is a two-time NCAA champion, on track to be a three-time champ, she won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year this year, and is an overall great leader for her team.
She is projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft. Her draft stock can still go up if the Gamecocks win the title under her leadership. As of now, she is slated to be a solid first-round pick.
In a video posted by Matt Dowell on X, Andraya Carter can be heard speaking on Johnson’s draft stock. Based on the conversations she has had with several GMs and the things she has heard, Carter is confident that Johnson will be a high first-round pick.
“I’ve talked to a lot of GMS,” she said. “I think of one that I was on a phone with last week, and this particular GM was like, ‘Man, I love Raven.’ I’m like, yeah, how can you not love Raven? She is a winner.”
Carter praised the progress Johnson has made as an offensive threat, as it shows her incredible work ethic. Outside of performing on the court, what makes Johnson even more special is her leadership qualities.
“She is a leader, she is a winner, her teammates love to play with her, she is an excellent defender, so there are a lot of things that I feel like coaches and GMs have seen this year from Raven,” Carter added.
In her opinion, Johnson always had the potential to be a top draft pick, but this year she has taken her draft stock to another level.
Dawn Staley is Impressed by Raven Johnson’s Leadership
During the Sweet 16 matchup against Oklahoma, Dawn Staley witnessed another instance of Johnson being a great leader. Johnson saw Joyce Edwards voicing her frustration about the tightness of the rims, a change brought in by the NCAA for each of its double-regional sites this year.
Johnson tapped Edwards on the shoulder and told her, “The rims are great. You got to think positive.” Staley saw the interaction and was impressed by how calmly she handled it.
“When it’s time to elevate in regards to winning, she takes on this narrow-mindedness of only seeing things that will help winning,” Staley said. “They need her guidance. She’s only going by her winning compass. She’s going to point them in the right direction.”
These are the qualities that any WNBA team could benefit from, which makes Johnson a desirable pick in the upcoming draft. The Gamecocks will face the undefeated UConn Huskies tomorrow.
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