South Carolina women's basketball preseason player profiles: Tessa Johnson
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South Carolina’s Repeat Tour begins on November 4 in Las Vegas. Throughout October, GamecockCentral will profile each member of the team and how she is expected to contribute this season. Today we look at the start of the last postseason, Tessa Johnson.
Tessa Johnson (Sophomore, Guard, 6-0)
35 games (2 starts), 6.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 43.2 3P%
Player profile
Johnson’s freshman campaign was a tale of two seasons. She was wildly inconsistent over the first half of the season after an ankle injury limited her progress. At some point in late January, the lightbulb came on, and Johnson became one of the Gamecocks’ most reliable players. She defended well, spaced the floor with her three-point shooting, and got to the rim when the defense played too tight. Johnson hit big shots in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, beginning a run as “Tournament Tessa.” She hit more big shots against Oregon State and NC State, and was fantastic in the national championship game, scoring a career-high 19 points and earning all-tournament honors.
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Preseason assessment
Johnson has been a bit of an afterthought going into the season, which is pretty much the story of her career. She had a modest debut in the exhibition against Memphis, but a closer inspection shows continued growth. Johnson had six points, three rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and a steal with only one turnover. It may not have been spectacular, but it was a mature, productive, all-around game.
Burning question: Is Tournament Tessa here to stay?
Johnson won’t sneak up on anyone this season. As coaches often say, things are different when you’re near the top of the opponent’s scouting report. She’s also dealing with a different kind of attention – expectations. Can she continue to produce at a high level now that she is in the spotlight?
