Meechie Johnson
 | |
| Ohio State Buckeyes | |
|---|---|
| Position | Point guard |
| League | Big Ten Conference |
| Personal information | |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 184 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Garfield Heights (Garfield Heights, Ohio) |
| College |
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Meechie Johnson Jr. is an American college basketball point guard plays for Ohio State Buckeyes. He previously played for the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Early life and high school
[edit]Johnson attended high school at Garfield Heights. In Johnson's junior season he tore his ACL.[1] Before tearing his ACL in his junior season, Johnson was averaging 23 points per game.[2] Coming out of high school, Johnson was rated as a four star recruit, the 14th ranked point guard, and the 76th overall player in the 2021 recruiting class.[3] Johnson also held offers from schools such as Louisville, Ohio State, Georgetown and Miami.[4] Johnson ultimately decided to commit to play college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes.[5][6]
College career
[edit]Ohio State
[edit]In Johnson's freshman season in 2020–21 he appeared in 17 games where he averaged 1.2 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.[7]
On November 21, 2021, Johnson scored eight points including the game winning shots as he helped the Buckeyes upset #21 Seton Hall 79–76.[8] During the 2021–22 season, Johnson played in 26 games where he averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.[9] After the conclusion of the 2021–22 season, Johnson decided to enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal.[10][11]
South Carolina
[edit]Johnson decided to transfer to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.[12][13] On January 10, 2023, Johnson scored 26 points in a win over Kentucky.[14] Johnson finished his first season with the Gamecocks averaging 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, while shooting 33% from three.[15] After the conclusion of the 2022–23 season, Johnson declared for the 2023 NBA draft, however just a few days after, Johnson withdrew his name from the draft.[16][17]
On March 2, 2024, Johnson led the Gamecocks to a win over Florida, after leading the team with 25 points.[18] In the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament, Johnson scored a team-high 24 points, while also adding three rebounds and assists, however the Gamecocks lost to the Oregon Ducks in the first round 87–73.[19] Johnson finished the 2023–24 season starting in 33 games where he averaged 14.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, as he was named second team all-SEC and led the Gamecocks to their first tournament appearance since 2017.[20] After the conclusion of the 2023–24 season, Johnson entered the NCAA transfer portal, while also thinking about declaring for the 2024 NBA draft.[21][22]
Personal life
[edit]Johnson is close family friends with NBA superstar LeBron James and refers to him as an uncle.[23][24]
References
[edit]- ^ Rowland, Kyle (13 August 2019). "Guard commits to Ohio State". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Goul, Matt (24 October 2019). "Ohio State basketball commit Meechie Johnson targets spring return". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Means, Stephen (8 November 2020). "Meechie Johnson, Ohio State basketball commit, announces plan to enroll early: Buckeyes Recruiting". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Jardy, Adam (22 October 2021). "Ohio State men's basketball power rankings: No. 6 Meechie Johnson Jr". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Jardy, Adam (13 August 2019). "Ohio State basketball gets commitment from 2021 guard Meechie Johnson Jr". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Landis, Bill (14 August 2019). "In Meechie Johnson, Ohio State gets a scorer and one step closer to an all-Ohio 2021 class". The Athletic. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Meechie Johnson 2020–21 Splits". Sports Reference. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Jardy, Adam (24 November 2021). "With family in stands, Meechie Johnson Jr. hits game-winner for Ohio State". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Jardy, Adam (12 April 2022). "Ohio State basketball's Meechie Johnson Jr. entering transfer portal after two seasons". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Means, Stephen (12 April 2022). "What Meechie Johnson Jr. entering the transfer portal means for Ohio State basketball". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Lind, Andrew (12 April 2022). "Ohio State Guard Meechie Johnson Enters Transfer Portal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Means, Stephen (25 April 2022). "Former Ohio State basketball player Meechie Johnson Jr. transfers to South Carolina". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Lind, Andrew (25 April 2022). "Ohio State's Meechie Johnson Transferring To South Carolina". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Cloninger, David (26 January 2023). "Meechie and LeBron: Gamecock guard's 'uncle' cheers from NBA". Post and Courier. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Adams, Emily (23 May 2023). "Meechie Johnson returning to South Carolina basketball in 2023–24, withdraws from NBA Draft". Greenville Online. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Lyon, Andrew (20 March 2023). "Meechie Johnson To Test Waters In NBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Vessels, Chandler (23 May 2023). "South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson withdraws from 2023 NBA Draft, will return to school". On3.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Keepfer, Scott (2 March 2024). "South Carolina basketball rides Meechie Johnson's huge second half past Florida in SEC showdown". Greenville Online. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Al-Khateeb, Zac (25 March 2024). "Why is Meechie Johnson transferring? South Carolina leading scorer 'testing NBA draft waters'". Greenville Online. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Melton, Matt (25 March 2024). "South Carolina star guard Meechie Johnson to reportedly enter transfer portal". USA Today. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Hricik, Madison. "Meechie Johnson, South Carolina's leading scorer, headed to transfer portal". The State. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Connolly, Matt (26 March 2024). "Meechie Johnson explains decision to leave South Carolina, enter transfer portal". On3.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Smith, Cam (13 August 2019). "Ohio State basketball lands commitment from LeBron James' nephew, Meechie Johnson Jr". USA Today. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ Taylor, Collyn (13 January 2023). "Lamont Paris explains LeBron James' shoutout of Meechie Johnson, talks Johnson's play". On3.com. Retrieved 29 March 2024.