Lamont Paris’ Gamecocks continue to add players, reel in Ohio State guard
South Carolina men’s basketball coach Lamont Paris dipped into his home state of Ohio to land the Gamecocks’ latest commitment.
Former Ohio State guard Meechie Johnson announced his decision to transfer to USC on Monday, marking the third transfer Paris and his recently completed staff have added in April. The Gamecocks have lost seven players to the transfer portal since Paris was hired on March 21.
A second-year player who averaged 17.7 minutes in 26 games for the Buckeyes last season, Johnson grew up as an Ohio State fan in Cleveland and came to the Buckeyes as a four-star recruit. He graduated high school a year early and enrolled at OSU for the 2020-21 season.
Johnson has battled injuries throughout his career, including a knee injury that sidelined him for his junior year of high school. The 6-foot-2, 172-pound guard gives USC some much-needed depth in the backcourt after losing Jermaine Couisnard, Erik Stevenson and James Reese. Johnson should compete with holdovers Jacobi Wright and Chico Carter Jr. for minutes at guard — assuming neither Wright nor Carter Jr. transfer.
Johnson scored 4.4 points per game last season, shooting 30.8% from the field and 32.1% from the 3-point line.
The Gamecocks have started to gain momentum on the transfer market after a couple of quiet weeks. The Citadel transfer Hayden Brown — an experienced, versatile forward — committed to Paris’ team over the weekend.
Gamecocks Roster moves
Listed with previous college/new college where applicable.
Additions
Troy Boynton (April 16) — Evansville
Hayden Brown (April 23) — The Citadel
Meechie Johnson (April 25) — Ohio State
Transfers
Keyshawn Bryant (April 22)
Mike Green (March 28)
Devin Carter (March 28) — Providence
Wildens Leveque (March 27) — Massachusetts
Ta’Quan Woodley (March 26) — Massachusetts
Jermaine Couisnard (March 25)
Erik Stevenson (March 24) — West Virginia
This story was originally published April 25, 2022 at 3:20 PM with the headline "Lamont Paris’ Gamecocks continue to add players, reel in Ohio State guard."
