Jermaine Johnson (basketball)
{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Jermaine Johnson
| office = Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
| term_start = December 4, 2020
| term_end =
| predecessor = Jimmy Bales
| successor =
| constituency = 80th district (2020–2022)
70th district (2022–2024)
52nd district (2024–present)
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|7|4}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic
| education = College of Charleston (BA)
Strayer University (MS)
Northcentral University (DBA)
|module = {{Infobox basketball biography
|embed = yes
|height_ft = 6
|height_in = 7
|weight_lbs = 250
|highschool = The Winchendon School
|college = College of Charleston (2005–2009)
|draft_year = 2009
|career_start = 2009
|career_end = 2015
|career_position = Power forward / Center
|career_number = 5, 19
|years1 = 2009–2010
|team1 = Reno Bighorns
|years2 = 2010
|team2 = Libertadores de Querétaro
|years3 = 2010
|team3 = Mineros de Fresnillo
|years4 = 2010–2011
|team4 = Jaguares de la Bahia Riviera Nayarit
|years5 = 2011
|team5 = Cidade dé Barreiro
|years6 = 2011–2012
|team6 = Franca
|years7 = 2012
|team7 = Pavos de Nuevo Casas Grandes
|years8 = 2012
|team8 = Mineros de Fresnillo
|years9 = 2012–2013
|team9 = Gigantes Edomex
|years10 = 2013
|team10 = Soles de Ojinaga
|years11 = 2013–2014
|team11 = Ottawa SkyHawks
|years12 = 2014
|team12 = London Lightning
|years13 = 2014–2015
|team13 = Abejas de León
|years14 = 2015
|team14 = Soles de Ojinaga
|highlights =
- SoCon Freshman of the Year (2006)
- Second-team All-SoCon (2008)
- Third-team All-SoCon (2009)
- NBL All-Star (2014)}}
}}
Jermaine Johnson Sr. (born July 4, 1985) is an American politician, political advisor and former professional basketball player. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the member for South Carolina House of Representatives District 52.{{Cite web |title=Election Night Reporting |url=https://www.enr-scvotes.org/SC/122436/web.345435/#/detail/28104 |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.enr-scvotes.org |language=en}}
Early life
Johnson was born on July 4, 1985, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up during the crack epidemic and his family struggled with homelessness, living in and out of motels following home evictions. His father spent time in prison and his brother was in the military. Johnson's face was scarred when he was pistol-whipped as a teenager.{{Cite web|last=Caraviello|first=David|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/news/from-homeless-youth-and-turbulent-cofc-career-jermaine-johnson-is/article_cfb4f2a2-01ad-11ea-bdd4-ff23e4b5af2c.html|title=From homeless youth and turbulent CofC career, Jermaine Johnson is Andrew Yang's guy in SC|work=The Post and Courier|access-date=2020-03-30|date=November 29, 2019}}
Athletic career
=High school and college career=
Johnson's AAU coach helped him get into prep schools for basketball. Johnson attended seven high schools while growing up including Trinity-Pawling School and Redemption Christian Academy. He eventually attended and graduated from the Winchendon School.{{Cite web|url=https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/johnson-staying-east-for-trip|title=Johnson Staying East for Trip
|website=Rivals Basketball Recruiting|access-date=2020-03-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.usbasket.com/player/Jermaine_Johnson//Ottaway_SkyHawks/90346|title=Jermaine Johnson basketball profile|website=USA Basketball|access-date=2020-03-30}}
In high school, Johnson received interest from the College of Charleston and Long Beach State for basketball. He committed to the College of Charleston. Three months into his redshirt freshman season, Johnson got into an altercation with his teammate Jeff Horowitz. Johnson intended to transfer to Long Beach State, but ended up staying at Charleston College.{{Cite web|url=https://uncwsports.com/news/2006/11/26/Draper_Cougars_Speed_Past_Seahawks_91_70.aspx|title=Draper, Cougars Speed Past Seahawks, 91–70|website=University of North Carolina Wilmington|access-date=2020-03-30}}
In 2008, Johnson scored the first points in the TD Arena for the Cougars.
Johnson served as Charleston's captain during his senior year. He finished his career as one of only four players in school history with at least 1,100 points and 850 rebounds.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14800&ATCLID=781024|title=CofC Men's Basketball BIO|website=College of Charleston|access-date=2020-03-30}}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
=Professional career=
==D-League==
Johnson was drafted by the Reno Bighorns in the 6th round of the NBA Development Draft. He was released from the team after one year. He trained with James Harden and Amar'e Stoudemire during summer workouts in Los Angeles.{{Cite web|url=https://cofcsports.com/news/2009/11/6/204828434.aspx|title=Former CofC Standout Jermaine Johnson Selected in NBA D-League Draft|website=College of Charleston|access-date=2020-03-30}}
==International career==
Johnson played more than six years, professionally overseas including in France, Mexico, Hungary and Canada. He starred during his time in the Mexican Basketball League where he averaged 21 points and 8 rebounds per game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.interperformances.com/news/skyhawks-sign-jermaine-johnson-2013-09-17/|title=SKYHAWKS SIGN JERMAINE JOHNSON
|website=Interperformances|access-date=2020-03-30}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/22893/jermaine-johnson|title=JERMAINE JOHNSON|website=ESPN|access-date=2020-03-30}}
Political career
Johnson is the founder and CEO of the New Economic Beginnings Foundation, which helps educate and find employment for opportunities for troubled youth and veterans.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wltx.com/article/money/new-economic-beginnings-for-youth-and-veterans/384530026|title=New Economic Beginnings For Youth And Veterans|website=WLTX|access-date=2020-03-30}}{{Cite web|url=http://nebfoundation.us/ceo-jermaine-johnson/|title=Jermaine Johnson, E.D.|website=New Economic Beginnings|access-date=2020-03-30|archive-date=2018-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902124644/http://nebfoundation.us/ceo-jermaine-johnson/|url-status=dead}}
Currently, Johnson serves as the 3rd Vice Chair of the Richland County Democratic party, Richland County Recreation Commissioner, Vice Chair of the Young Democrats of the Central Midlands and Minority Caucus Chair of the Young Democrats of South Carolina.{{Cite web|url=https://richlandscdems.com/about/our-team/|title=Our Team|website=Richland South Carolina Friends|access-date=2020-03-30}}{{Cite web|url=http://richlandcountyrecreation.com/about/board-of-commissioners/|title=Board of Commissioners|website=Richland South Carolina Recreation|access-date=2020-03-30}}
Johnson served as the South Carolina Campaign Chair for Andrew Yang's 2020 presidential campaign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95tiZxhTL2Q|title=Dr. Jermaine Johnson, former head of Yang 2020 South Carolina office, is back in the Nerd Zone!|website=Nerds For Yang|access-date=2020-03-30}}
=South Carolina House of Representatives=
In 2020, Johnson announced he would challenge Democratic incumbent Jimmy Bales for his seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. Johnson centered his campaign around universal basic income, community investment, economic investment, district enhancement and access and accountability. He earned endorsements from former 2020 presidential candidate Andrew Yang, former South Carolina State Representative and current CNN political analyst Bakari Sellers and current South Carolina State Representative JA Moore. In June 2020, Johnson defeated Bales in the Democratic Primary and became the Democratic nominee.{{Cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/news/local_and_state_news/democrat-jermaine-johnson-to-challenge-for-state-house-seat-currently/article_ec57ac3e-6a0c-11ea-954f-a74ef6603941.html|title=Democrat Jermaine Johnson to challenge for state House seat currently held by Jimmy Bales|website=The Post and Courier|access-date=2020-03-30}}
After redistricting following the 2020 United States census, Johnson's district was merged into House District 70. This forced Johnson to run in a contested primary against fellow-representative Wendy Brawley. In the primary, Johnson garnered 50.11% person of the vote to defeat Brawley by 115 votes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article262344482.html|title=In showdown between 2 sitting SC House members, Johnson narrowly wins District 70 race|website=The State|access-date=2022-05-16}}
Johnson currently serves on the House Education and Public Works Committee."House Standing Committees". South Carolina Legislature. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 8, 2022. He is Secretary of the House Minority Caucus."Our Leadership". South Carolina House Democratic Caucus. 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
In 2023, Johnson co-sponsored legislation with Rep. Brandon Cox to place a monument on the South Carolina State House grounds honoring Robert Smalls.{{Cite web |last=Clervaud |first=Fraendy |date=2024-05-27 |title=Monument for formerly enslaved man turned war hero, coming to SC State House |url=https://wach.com/news/local/monument-for-formerly-enslaved-man-turned-war-hero-coming-to-sc-state-house-robert-smalls-civil-war-beaufort-jermaine-johnson-brandon-cox |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=WACH |language=en}} In 2024, Johnson was among the state legislators appointed to serve on the Robert Smalls Monument Commission.{{Cite web |last=Frazier |first=Herb |date=2024-08-23 |title=S.C. forms Smalls Monument Commission |url=https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2024/08/23/s-c-forms-smalls-monument-commission/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=Charleston City Paper |language=en-US}}
Electoral history
=2020 South Carolina House of Representatives=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = South Carolina House of Representatives District 80 Democratic Primary, 2020
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jermaine Johnson
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 3,573
| percentage = 75.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jimmy Bales (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 1,156
| percentage = 24.4
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 4,729
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = South Carolina House of Representatives District 80 General Election, 2020
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jermaine Johnson
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 10,742
| percentage = 59.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Vincent Wilson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 7,268
| percentage = 40.3
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 18,010
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2022 South Carolina House of Representatives=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = South Carolina House of Representatives District 70 Democratic Primary, 2022
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jermaine Johnson (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,495
| percentage = 50.1
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Wendy Brawley (incumbent)
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 2,380
| percentage = 47.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Bridgette Jones Larry
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 104
| percentage = 2.1
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 5,046
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = South Carolina House of Representatives District 70 General Election, 2022
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jermaine Johnson
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 10,046
| percentage = 76.4
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Vincent Wilson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,623
| percentage = 20.0
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Charla Henson-Simons
| party = Green Party (United States)
| votes = 456
| percentage = 3.5
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 13,143
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Johnson lives with his wife and four children in South Carolina. He just recently started coaching a basketball team with his son(Kobe Joesph)-( 5 years old) also known as number 5. His daughter is on the middle school basketball team. He received a Doctorate of Business Administration and Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University in 2018.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{South Carolina House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Jermaine}}
Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:21st-century African-American politicians
Category:21st-century members of the South Carolina General Assembly
Category:African-American state legislators in South Carolina
Category:American athlete-politicians
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Los Angeles
Category:College of Charleston alumni
Category:Democratic Party members of the South Carolina House of Representatives