Guard Meechie Johnson’s return gives the Gamecocks experience in the backcourt thanks to his shooting and playmaking skills. Photo courtesy of South Carolina Athletics.
Basketball’s Version of The Dating Game: Gamecocks guard Meechie Johnson should invest in his own airline company with its major hubs between Columbia, S.C., and Columbus, Ohio.
Johnson came back to Columbia for his sixth season after only playing 10 games with the Buckeyes, missing the rest of the season with a facial fracture and an ankle injury. He returned to South Carolina for his final year and went through some back issues at the beginning of summer workouts.
Johnson is a leader and a scorer who only needs to stay healthy to create a memorable sixth year.
“It’s like a dating relationship where there’s been a breakup, then you start going back,” said Gamecocks coach Lamont Paris. “Is this real? Are you really there? Am I really there? As you continue talking, you’re getting to the bottom of what he wants out of this, what his expectations are, what we need out of this, what his expectations will be, there really wasn’t much of a decision for me, honestly.”
The third-year South Carolina coach saw Johnson’s game rise after two freshman seasons at Ohio State. The Cleveland native started 62 games in 2023 and 2024 when he found is three-point game while becoming a savvy creator off the dribble.
A back injury ended last season after 10 games, as Johnson knew it was time for him to succeed in beating physical and mental issues that had slowed him. He reenrolled at South Carolina, where Paris was waiting to help his former player.
“We can’t imagine having brought a better piece into our team than Meechie Johnson,” summarized Paris. “Some of that is basketball. Most of that doesn’t really pertain to basketball. He speaks our language. He understands the things that we understand. He knows what the expectations are.”
Back in the Mix: The return of Myles Stute is also a positive for the Gamecocks, as he started 14 games before being sidelined for the rest of the season due to a blood clot in his leg. At 6-7, 221, Stute is a tough matchup when he scores his three-ball. In two seasons, Stute has started 31 of his 41 games and has shot 36.5 percent from behind the arc.
“You have a guy like Myles Stute who really had a hard time,” said Paris, who referred to Stute’s injuries. “You think about it, you’re in your last year of eligibility, you have something like this happen. It had nothing to do with you putting yourself in harm’s way. It had nothing to do with anything that you did.”
Stute stayed with his team throughout the season and practices, and Paris was ecstatic to call Stute and tell him that he had another year.
South Carolina will hope for Stute to find the consistent range on his three-ball and be a major option this season.
Johnson Keys Opening Dub: Johnson scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and spread four assists in the Gamecocks’ 91-72 opening win over North Carolina A&T. He scored eight in a row midway through the second half to give South Carolina a 63-40 lead with 12:28 remaining.
“I really like our team,” noted Paris. “This is the third year I’ve been around Meechie, and I’ve known their family for a long time, his uncle and whatnot. But I love being around him, he’s got a great energy and a vibe to him.”
Stute posted nine points and five rebounds in 22 minutes. He hit an early three in the middle of two triples from Nordin Kapic, who started 33 of 34 games for UC San Diego last season. Those triples set the tone with a 9-4 lead just three minutes into the game.
While Johnson led with 14 and Kapic found 13 points, South Florida Bull Kobe Knox added 12 as Boston College transfer Elijah Strong and freshman Eli Ellis posted 11 points each.