Star Gamecocks freshman Raven Johnson to miss season after knee injury
South Carolina women’s basketball freshman Raven Johnson will miss the 2021-22 season after suffering a knee injury in last week’s win over South Dakota.
“I’m obviously heartbroken for Raven,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said Tuesday morning in a statement. “Everyone could see what she added to our basketball team this year, and a lot of that are the intangibles that will also guide her through the recovery process. Her tenacity and competitiveness will be put to use in a different way than she had planned this year, but they will sustain her, as will the support of her teammates and our coaching and medical staffs.”
The school did not specify the nature of the injury or a timetable for her recovery, only updating Johnson’s status and calling it a “left knee injury.”
Johnson left the Gamecocks’ 72-41 win over South Dakota on Friday night after her left leg bent awkwardly as she cut to the basket with 3:57 to go in the first quarter. The freshman was helped off the floor and went to the locker room.
Johnson shared this message Tuesday morning via social media: “God allows things to happen for a reason, and I know He has my back. This is a minor setback for a major comeback. You will see Raven ‘Hollywood’ Johnson again. The comeback is always stronger than the setback!”
Staley said after the game she wasn’t able to see Johnson’s injury from where she was on the sideline. Staley said she would likely watch a video of what transpired Friday night.
“I didn’t see exactly what happened,” Staley said.
Johnson was the top player in South Carolina’s No. 1 recruiting class, ranked the No. 1 point guard in the country and the No. 2 overall player of 2021. She played in 8 minutes of the Gamecocks’ season-opening win at N.C. State on Tuesday.
South Carolina freshmen saw more playing time in the Gamecocks’ second win of the season. Bree Hall scored 6 points and grabbed three rebounds in 11 minutes, and Sania Feagin scored 4 points in 5 minutes of action.
Saniya Rivers traveled but didn’t play against South Dakota due to an undisclosed illness. Rivers also did not play in the Gamecocks’ season opener against N.C. State after dropping 11 points and blocking two shots in the exhibition win over Benedict.
South Carolina plays its home opener against Clemson on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Colonial Life Arena.
This story was originally published November 16, 2021 at 9:41 AM.
