Former Buckeye/Gamecock returns to Columbia after very short home stint with Ohio State

Meechie Johnson came back to Ohio state to join new coach, Jake Diebler, and other transfers this season in what turned out to be another missed tournament season. Now the Ohio native is leaving for South Carolina again after very odd season with the Buckeyes.
Ohio State v Maryland
Ohio State v Maryland | G Fiume/GettyImages

The guard from Cleveland, Ohio came home to Columbus and had many basketball fans turning heads as he would join Bruce Thorton and promising freshman guard, John Mobley Jr. in the back court. During his two seasons as a Gamecock, Johnson started 62 games and averaged, 13.4 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 3.3APG.

In his first game back, Johnson struggled shooting the ball, going 2-18, his only makes being threes. He still grabbed four rebounds and dished out three assists to help the Buckeyes get the opening season win over 19th-ranked Texas. His numbers picked up as the season got going and he was soon back scoring and play making effectively getting the Buckeyes to 6-3 as they entered the Holiday Hoops giving series against the number 2 ranked, Auburn Tigers. Johnson did not play well against the Tigers, putting up only 5 points, two assists, and two turnovers.

After the game, Johnson wouldn't play again for the rest of the season which had every Ohio State hoops fan wondering, why? Yes, he had a bad game, but it was against the number 2 team in the country and now a Final Four team. All we can assume about Johnsons departure from the team is that it had to do with his own personal reasonings.

Without Johnson, the Gamecocks struggled heavily in conference play this season. They ended the season 12-20 overall and 2-16 in conference play, putting them dead last in the SEC. This is very disappointing after going 26-8 and being ranked 24th at the end of the 2023-24 season with Johnson on the team. The SEC is loaded with top 25 teams, and 14 of the 16 teams made the NCAA Tournament or First Four.

Although the move to go back to Columbia is very strange, as we often see players going from school, we rarely see a player go back and forth between just two schools; it may work out. We may see Johnson help propel the Gamecocks back into a dominant team, especially if South Carolina's Forward, Collin Murray- Boyles returns for his third season. It's too far away in the future to see if the move to return will end up how it did this season in Columbus, but as of right now, fans in Columbia are excited and hopeful, and fans in Columbus are scratching their heads and confused.