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PG Demetrius "Meechie" Johnson, Jr. (transfer to South Carolina)

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maybe the commitment was a planned event, which meechie states in jardy's interview, but i can't help but wonder that it wasn't merely coincidental that meechie committed while carter whitt was also on campus for an unofficial. though whitt is currently a little bit more of a lead guard, i think both are vying for the same position in a 4-player class that may expand to 5 once the staff sees how carton performs on the big stage. carton may very well turn out to be a 2-and-done player, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. career plans developed before college usually change once in college.

as things stand now, my guess is that the staff prefers meechie to focus on being a lead guard this season and next. if the 2021 class stands pat at 4-deep, then we'll need for him to enter college as a floor general, especially if he doesn't find a growth spurt to match his father's height of 6'4". moreover, if meechie has dreams of playing in the league -- and i'm sure he does -- then it's a much easier sell to be a 6'2"ish point guard than an off-guard of the same height.

though a conversation for a different thread, it would be quite swell to get branham to join johnson and etzler. doubt we get duncomb. depending on the type of post player we get for 2020, billingsley might become the guy, though right now i'd put my money on bediako.
 
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as things stand now, my guess is that the staff prefers meechie to focus on being a lead guard this season and next. if the 2021 class stands pat at 4-deep, then we'll need for him to enter college as a floor general, especially if he doesn't find a growth spurt to match his father's height of 6'4". moreover, if meechie has dreams of playing in the league -- and i'm sure he does -- then it's a much easier sell to be a 6'2"ish point guard than an off-guard of the same height.
i hope this is accurate, and i hope there's a couple more to go.

 
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Ohio State basketball lands commitment from LeBron James' nephew, Meechie Johnson Jr.
Cam Smith, USA TODAY High School Sports , High School SportsPublished 1:39 a.m. ET Aug. 14, 2019 | Updated 1:43 a.m. ET Aug. 14, 2019

It's early, but Ohio State is already making noise for the basketball class of 2021.

As reported by 247Sports, the Buckeyes received their second commit for 2021 in the form of four-star combo guard Meechie Johnson Jr. A 5-foot-11, 160-pound combo guard from Garfield Heights High School (Cleveland, Ohio), Johnson picked Ohio State before he received formal offers from the likes of Big Ten competitors Indiana, Michigan State and Wisconsin, among other programs that expressed interest.

Johnson has long been tracked as a top prospect both because of his natural talent and his connection to the NBA's most famous star: He is the nephew of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.


"I am staying home and it is a great feeling," Johnson told 247Sports. "Coach Ryan Pedon and Coach (Chris) Holtmann and the entire staff are great people, and they made me feel at home every time I went to Ohio State. I just knew it was the right place for me.

"It is going to be great to be a leader of this class. (Fellow 2021 commit Kalen Etzler) and I are two of the top players in the state of Ohio. We are going to get who we need to get, and whoever wants to be a part of this will be a part of something amazing. I know we are going to get a great class, and we are going to do some special things. I just couldn't be more excited about being an Ohio State Buckeye."


Another factor in Johnson's commitment? His father's familiarity and comfort with the coaching staff. Meechie Johnson Sr. played at Kent State when Pedon was a coach there and for fellow Ohio State assistant Terry Johnson when Meechie Johnson Sr. played at Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW). Johnson Sr. said his comfort with both coaches as people and talent developers made the entire Johnson family comfortable with the decision to pick Ohio State.

With his college decision in the books, Johnson Jr. will turn to rehabbing a knee injury that cost him an important summer campaign leading into his junior year. The teenager said that working his way back in his junior season is important, but that he gets comfort from knowing that Ohio State is sticking by him no matter how long it takes for him to recover.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...class-of-21-4star-g-meechie-johnson/39957355/
 
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Ohio State adds to fast start in '21 with Meechie Johnson
ByBRIAN SNOW 16 hours ago
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Meechie Johnson (Photo: 247Sports)

The Ohio State Buckeyes are off to an extremely fast start in the class of 2021. On Tuesday, Chris Holtmann and his staff landed their second commitment in the class when Meechie Johnson pulled the trigger and picked the Buckeyes on his visit.

Johnson, who ranks as the No. 71 prospect in the class according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, missed the spring and summer with a knee injury, but he is hoping to get back on the floor at some point for his junior season.

At around 6-feet tall, Johnson is a combo guard who can both score and distribute. He has good speed, is a solid athlete, and is capable of getting all the way to the rim, or scoring from distance.

Johnson informed 247Sports of his commitment to Ohio State, saying, "I am staying home and it is a great feeling. Coach Ryan Pedon and Coach Holtmann and the entire staff are great people, and they made me feel at home every time I went to Ohio State. I just knew it was the right place for me."

One of the key factors for Johnson was the fact that the Buckeyes stuck with him throughout his injury, and never wavered with their interest.

"They have been really open and honest with me the entire time, and haven't pressured me at all," said Johnson. "Them sticking with me through my injury has meant a lot, and it shows what type of people and what type of coaches they are."

Another factor according to Meechie Johnson Sr, was his familiarity with the coaching staff and knowing them as people.

"I have known Coach Pedon for a long time," said Johnson Sr. "I started my career at Kent State when Coach Pedon was a coach there, and then I transferred to IPFW. Terry Johnson coached me at IPFW, so for me to have a connection to two guys on staff, and knowing they are great people and great coaches, it gave the entire family a level of comfort with Ohio State for Meechie."

Along with the Buckeyes, Johnson has received interest from schools all over the Big Ten.

This commitment is the second one for Holtmann and his staff in the class of 2021. Joining Johnson in the commitment column is Kalen Etzler. Both Etzler and Johnson hail from the state of Ohio, and recruiting the Buckeye State has been a major focus for Holtmann since he got to Columbus over two years ago.

In fact, Johnson, who is one of the more outgoing and popular players in the class of 2021 says that now he is excited to take a little bit of a leadership role on the recruiting trail since the Buckeyes are looking to bring in a class heavy in numbers in 2021.

"It is going to be great to be a leader of this class," said Johnson. "Kalen and I are two of the top players in the state of Ohio. We are going to get who we need to get, and whoever wants to be a part of this will be a part of something amazing. I know we are going to get a great class, and we are going to do some special things. I just couldn't be more excited about being an Ohio State Buckeye."

https://247sports.com/college/baske...Ohio-State-Buckeyes-Chris-Holtmann-134425898/
 
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Johnson has long been tracked as a top prospect both because of his natural talent and his connection to the NBA's most famous star: He is the nephew of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
looks like the 2021-22 team is set up to have a backcourt lineup consisting of two laker nephews. would be cool to have derek fisher and lebron both show up for a game at the schott. heck, i'll be surprised if it doesn't happen.
 
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