Meechie Johnson
{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Meechie Johnson
| image = File:Meechie Johnson.jpg
| caption = Johnson with South Carolina in 2022
| number =
| position = Point guard
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 184
| league = Big Ten Conference
| team = South Carolina Gamecocks
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|9|21}}
| birth_place =
| nationality = American
| high_school = Garfield Heights (Garfield Heights, Ohio)
| college =
- Ohio State (2020–2022)
- South Carolina (2022–2024)
- Ohio State (2024–2025)
- South Carolina (2025–present)
| highlights =
- Second-team All-SEC (2024)
}}
Demetrius "Meechie" Johnson Jr. is an American college basketball player for the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference. He previously played for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Early life and high school
Johnson attended Garfield Heights High School. As a junior, he averaged 23 points per game before he tore his ACL.{{cite web |last1=Goul |first1=Matt |title=Ohio State basketball commit Meechie Johnson targets spring return |url=https://www.cleveland.com/highschoolsports/2019/10/ohio-state-basketball-commit-meechie-johnson-targets-spring-return.html |website=Cleveland.com |date=24 October 2019 |access-date=29 March 2024}} 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 class of 2021.{{cite web |last1=Means |first1=Stephen |title=Meechie Johnson, Ohio State basketball commit, announces plan to enroll early: Buckeyes Recruiting |url=https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2020/11/meechie-johnson-ohio-state-basketball-commits-announces-plan-to-enroll-early-buckeyes-recruiting.html |website=Cleveland.com |date=8 November 2020 |access-date=29 March 2024}} He received offers from schools such as Louisville, Ohio State, Georgetown and Miami.{{cite web |last1=Jardy |first1=Adam |title=Ohio State men's basketball power rankings: No. 6 Meechie Johnson Jr. |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/10/22/meechie-johnson-no-6-ohio-state-mens-basketball-power-rankings/6116487001/ |website=The Columbus Dispatch |date=22 October 2021 |access-date=29 March 2024}} Johnson committed to play college basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Cam |title=Ohio State basketball lands commitment from LeBron James' nephew, Meechie Johnson Jr. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/highschool/2019/08/13/ohio-state-basketball-lands-commitment-from-lebron-james-nephew-class-of-21-4star-g-meechie-johnson/39957355/ |website=USA Today |date=13 August 2019 |access-date=29 March 2024}}
College career
= Ohio State =
As a freshman in 2020–21 Johnson averaged 1.2 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.2 assists in 17 games.{{cite web |title=Meechie Johnson 2020–21 Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/meechie-johnsonjr-1/splits/2021?&per_game=1 |website=Sports Reference |access-date=29 March 2024}} On November 21, 2021, he scored eight points including the game-winning shots to help the Buckeyes upset #21 Seton Hall 79–76.{{cite web |last1=Jardy |first1=Adam |title=With family in stands, Meechie Johnson Jr. hits game-winner for Ohio State |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/11/24/meechie-johnson-jr-ohio-state-defeat-seton-hall-game-winner/8732746002/ |website=The Columbus Dispatch |date=24 November 2021 |access-date=29 March 2024}} During the 2021–22 season, Johnson averaged 4.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 26 games.{{cite web |last1=Jardy |first1=Adam |title=Ohio State basketball's Meechie Johnson Jr. entering transfer portal after two seasons |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2022/04/12/ohio-states-meechie-johnson-enters-the-transfer-portal/7295760001/ |website=The Columbus Dispatch |date=12 April 2022 |access-date=29 March 2024}} After the season, he entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.
= South Carolina =
Johnson transferred to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.{{cite web |last1=Means |first1=Stephen |title=Former Ohio State basketball player Meechie Johnson Jr. transfers to South Carolina |url=https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2022/04/former-ohio-state-basketball-player-meechie-johnson-jr-transfers-to-south-carolina.html |website=Cleveland.com |date=25 April 2022 |access-date=29 March 2024}} On January 10, 2023, he scored 26 points in a win over Kentucky.{{cite web |last1=Cloninger |first1=David |title=Meechie and LeBron: Gamecock guard's 'uncle' cheers from NBA |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/carolina/meechie-and-lebron-gamecock-guards-uncle-cheers-from-nba/article_bf0af44c-9ca5-11ed-9c37-3fa5c524716c.html |website=Post and Courier |date=26 January 2023 |access-date=29 March 2024}} In his first season with the Gamecocks, Johnson averaged 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while shooting 33 percent from three.{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=Emily |title=Meechie Johnson returning to South Carolina basketball in 2023–24, withdraws from NBA Draft |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2023/05/23/meechie-johnson-nba-draft-south-carolina-mens-basketball/70250191007/ |website=Greenville Online |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=29 March 2024}} He declared for the 2023 NBA draft after the season, but withdrew his name just a few days later.{{cite web |last1=Vessels |first1=Chandler |title=South Carolina guard Meechie Johnson withdraws from 2023 NBA Draft, will return to school |url=https://www.on3.com/college/south-carolina-gamecocks/news/south-carolina-guard-meechie-johnson-withdraws-from-2023-nba-draft/ |website=On3.com |date=23 May 2023 |access-date=29 March 2024}}
On March 2, 2024, Johnson scored a team-high 25 points a win over Florida.{{cite web |last1=Keepfer |first1=Scott |title=South Carolina basketball rides Meechie Johnson's huge second half past Florida in SEC showdown |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2024/03/02/south-carolina-basketball-florida-sec/72735004007/ |website=Greenville Online |date=2 March 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024}} In the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament, he scored a team-high 24 points, while also adding three rebounds and assists, in an 87–73 loss to Oregon in the first round.{{cite web |last1=Al-Khateeb |first1=Zac |title=Why is Meechie Johnson transferring? South Carolina leading scorer 'testing NBA draft waters' |url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/college/usc/2024/03/25/meechie-johnson-transfer-stats-247-south-carolina-basketball-nba-draft-lamont-paris/73098616007/ |website=Greenville Online |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Melton |first1=Matt |title=South Carolina star guard Meechie Johnson to reportedly enter transfer portal |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2024/03/25/transfer-portal-meechie-johnson-south-carolina-gamecocks-basketball/73100931007/ |website=USA Today |date=25 March 2024 |access-date=29 March 2024}} After the season, he entered the NCAA transfer portal.{{cite web |last1=Hricik |first1=Madison |title=Meechie Johnson, South Carolina's leading scorer, headed to transfer portal |url=https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-mens-basketball/article287080595.html |website=The State |access-date=29 March 2024}}
Personal life
Johnson is close family friends with NBA superstar LeBron James and refers to him as an uncle.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/meechie-jr./4275 Ohio State Buckeyes bio]
- [https://gamecocksonline.com/sports/mbball/roster/player/meechie-johnson/ South Carolina Gamecocks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Meechie}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Ohio
Category:Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball players