Ohio State transfer Meechie Johnson Jr.’s landing spot in the portal may show his heart was never in Columbus
The transfer portal is on fire at the moment in college basketball. It feels like there are notable entrances every single day. For the Ohio State Buckeyes, one of their most well-known players is headed elsewhere. His destination is now known, too. Meechie Johnson Jr. transfers back to South Carolina According to On3, Ohio State […]
The transfer portal is on fire at the moment in college basketball. It feels like there are notable entrances every single day. For the Ohio State Buckeyes, one of their most well-known players is headed elsewhere. His destination is now known, too.
Meechie Johnson Jr. transfers back to South Carolina
According to On3, Ohio State transfer guard Meechie Johnson Jr. has committed to South Carolina.
This will be Johnson's sixth collegiate season. Johnson appeared in ten games in this season for the Buckeyes after transferring back to Columbus from South Carolina. This will be his second stint as a Gamecock.
After averaging 14.1 points and 4.1 rebounds with the Gamecocks last season, Johnson’s numbers dropped to 9.1 points and 2.5 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per game with the Buckeyes in 2024-2025. Mental health concerns were the reason that Johnson took a leave from the team this past season, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Johnson started his college career at Ohio State, where he played the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. He then transferred to South Carolina for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons before transferring back to Ohio State for the 2024-25 season. — 247Sports
For Ohio State, they must address multiple needs in the transfer portal this offseason, and Johnson's departure only increases the pressure on their coaching staff. John Mobley Jr. replaced Johnson in the team's lineup this past season and looked like a legitimate piece for the future in Columbus.
With Johnson landing back at South Carolina, it is tough to believe that he was ever fully committed to the Buckeyes in his return. The fit never simply seemed to work, and he chose to return to a place where he may feel more comfortable.
Let's see how this offseason shakes out for the Buckeyes and head coach Jake Diebler.
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