WATCH: Raven Johnson riles up South Carolina crowd and teammates with dominant block

Raven Johnson briefly took up the role of "Swatkins" during South Carolina's 90-49 over visiting Texas A&M on Thursday. The pass-first guard launched a huge transition block near the break, igniting amplified reactions from the Gamecocks roster and the fans.

The Aggies' Taliyah Parker stormed the open floor, hoping to meet Tessa Johnson under the basket. However, Raven Johnson not only forced Parker to detour from the lane but also swatted her layup attempt, lodging her ninth block of the season. The play forced Chloe Kitts, Sania Feagin, Te-Hina Paopao and others out of their seats as Colonial Life Arena erupted in cheers.

Johnson, who averaged over 26 minutes across the last five games, saw just 20 minutes in the Gamecocks' dominant win. While she finished scoreless (0-for-3 shooting), the guard added four rebounds, one assist and a steal.

Nevertheless, South Carolina (15-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) displayed balanced scoring as six players scored in double digits. Joyce Edwards led with a double-double (19 points and 10 rebounds) while MiLaysia Fulwiley contributed 17 points and six rebounds.

Anthony Edwards once helped Raven Johnson get back on her game

Raven Johnson stood open on the top of the arc during the 2023 NCAA Final Four contest against the Iowa Hawkeyes. However, where an opposing player would rush to defend a wide-open guard, Caitlin Clark waived off Johnson and stepped deeper toward the basket.

The clip about "the girl who got waved off" quickly went viral in the basketball landscape, inflicting mental challenges on Johnson. She reportedly began stepping out of her room, questioning her basketball career and regularly missed classes.

That's when Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards stepped in, advising her to stay true to herself, eliminate the outside noise and trust in her hard work.

"Don’t let this bring you down. You know who you are … so you can’t let this situation change you," Edwards said to Johnson on a phone call (as per The Players' Tribune). "You need to get in the gym and work on your weakness. … Nothing’s going to be handed to you. You just need to get in the gym and do what others don’t do."

Raven Johnson and Anthony Edwards know each other from their middle school days, where they often trained together and dabbled in one-on-one games.