Michael Sauls, The State

As the college basketball season approaches, so does Raven Johnson’s last ride.

The senior could’ve given the pros a shot but opted to return to South Carolina women’s basketball this year, using another year of eligibility after an early injury her freshman year caused her to redshirt the 2021-2022 season.

Johnson is a veteran presence for Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks. She’s played in 114 games for South Carolina and started in 77 of those.

After the first official day of practice on Sept. 22, Staley said she believes Johnson is at her best heading into the 2025-26 season.

“I think she’s probably in the best, probably physical, mental (shape) like, just complete,” Staley said. “...We’d like for her to have gotten here a little sooner, but that’s her proc

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