Meechie Johnson

Last updated

Meechie Johnson
Meechie Johnson.jpg
No. 1Ohio State Buckeyes
Position Point guard
League Big Ten Conference
Personal information
Born (2002-09-21) September 21, 2002 (age 22)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight184 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school Garfield Heights (Garfield Heights, Ohio)
College
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-SEC (2024)

Meechie Johnson Jr. is an American college basketball player for the Ohio State Buckeyes of the Big Ten Conference. He previously played for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Contents

Early life and high school

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

Ohio State

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

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

Johnson is close family friends with NBA superstar LeBron James and refers to him as an uncle. [23] [24]

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References

  1. Rowland, Kyle (August 13, 2019). "Guard commits to Ohio State". Toledo Blade. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  2. Goul, Matt (October 24, 2019). "Ohio State basketball commit Meechie Johnson targets spring return". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  3. Means, Stephen (November 8, 2020). "Meechie Johnson, Ohio State basketball commit, announces plan to enroll early: Buckeyes Recruiting". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  4. Jardy, Adam (October 22, 2021). "Ohio State men's basketball power rankings: No. 6 Meechie Johnson Jr". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  5. Jardy, Adam (August 13, 2019). "Ohio State basketball gets commitment from 2021 guard Meechie Johnson Jr". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  6. Landis, Bill (August 14, 2019). "In Meechie Johnson, Ohio State gets a scorer and one step closer to an all-Ohio 2021 class". The Athletic. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  7. "Meechie Johnson 2020–21 Splits". Sports Reference. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  8. Jardy, Adam (November 24, 2021). "With family in stands, Meechie Johnson Jr. hits game-winner for Ohio State". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  9. Jardy, Adam (April 12, 2022). "Ohio State basketball's Meechie Johnson Jr. entering transfer portal after two seasons". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  10. Means, Stephen (April 12, 2022). "What Meechie Johnson Jr. entering the transfer portal means for Ohio State basketball". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  11. Lind, Andrew (April 12, 2022). "Ohio State Guard Meechie Johnson Enters Transfer Portal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  12. Means, Stephen (April 25, 2022). "Former Ohio State basketball player Meechie Johnson Jr. transfers to South Carolina". Cleveland.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  13. Lind, Andrew (April 25, 2022). "Ohio State's Meechie Johnson Transferring To South Carolina". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  14. Cloninger, David (January 26, 2023). "Meechie and LeBron: Gamecock guard's 'uncle' cheers from NBA". Post and Courier. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  15. Adams, Emily (May 23, 2023). "Meechie Johnson returning to South Carolina basketball in 2023–24, withdraws from NBA Draft". Greenville Online. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  16. Lyon, Andrew (March 20, 2023). "Meechie Johnson To Test Waters In NBA Draft". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  17. Vessels, Chandler (May 23, 2023). "South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson withdraws from 2023 NBA Draft, will return to school". On3.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  18. Keepfer, Scott (March 2, 2024). "South Carolina basketball rides Meechie Johnson's huge second half past Florida in SEC showdown". Greenville Online. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  19. Al-Khateeb, Zac (March 25, 2024). "Why is Meechie Johnson transferring? South Carolina leading scorer 'testing NBA draft waters'". Greenville Online. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  20. Melton, Matt (March 25, 2024). "South Carolina star guard Meechie Johnson to reportedly enter transfer portal". USA Today. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  21. Hricik, Madison. "Meechie Johnson, South Carolina's leading scorer, headed to transfer portal". The State. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  22. Connolly, Matt (March 26, 2024). "Meechie Johnson explains decision to leave South Carolina, enter transfer portal". On3.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  23. Smith, Cam (August 13, 2019). "Ohio State basketball lands commitment from LeBron James' nephew, Meechie Johnson Jr". USA Today. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  24. Taylor, Collyn (January 13, 2023). "Lamont Paris explains LeBron James' shoutout of Meechie Johnson, talks Johnson's play". On3.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.