Meechie Johnson returning to South Carolina basketball in 2023-24, withdraws from NBA Draft
COLUMBIA — Standout guard Meechie Johnson will return to South Carolina men's basketball for the 2023-24 season, he announced on social media Tuesday.
The 6-foot-2 Johnson previously declared for the NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility and was not widely projected as a major prospect. The draft is on June 22, and players who declare have until 5 p.m. June 23 to notify their athletic department that they are returning.
Run it Bak🤙🏽 #BBG #TTP #TheRightWay pic.twitter.com/vWYyKkdGMB
— Meechie Johnson (@MeechieJohnson0) May 23, 2023
Johnson, a rising junior, returns to the Gamecocks with up to three seasons of eligibility remaining due to the extra year awarded during the COVID-19 pandemic. He transferred to South Carolina in 2022 after two seasons at Ohio State.
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In his first season with the Gamecocks, Johnson was the team's No. 2 scorer averaging 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game shooting 33% from 3-point range. The team finished last in the SEC, going 11-21 overall and 4-14 in conference.
Star freshman GG Jackson also declared for the NBA Draft after the 2022-23 season and is projected as a first-round pick. The 6-foot-9 forward was a former 5-star recruit and South Carolina's leading scorer last season, averaging 15.4 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Johnson's return is critical for the Gamecocks, who lost five players including two starters in addition to Jackson. Starting forward Hayden Brown is out of eligibility, while starting guard Chico Carter, forward Tre-Vaughn Minott, forward Daniel Hankins-Sanford and guard Ford Cooper Jr. all entered the transfer portal. South Carolina's biggest offseason addition is Wofford transfer BJ Mack, a 6-8 center who averaged 16.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Terriers last season.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina's Meechie Johnson withdraws from NBA Draft returning to school
