Meechie Johnson makes passionate pitch for recruits to play for Lamont Paris
South Carolina point guard Meechie Johnson is going into his second year with the program looking to build from his prior accomplishments while finding more consistency within his game.
In his first year in Columbia, Johnson experienced the personal ups of a season with career highs in points, assists and minutes along with the lows of a disappointing year as a team.
Faced with the decision of whether or not to return for another year, Johnson chose to once again don the Garnet and Black in 2023-24, and it appears the chance to continue to work with head coach Lamont Paris was a big part of that.
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In an appearance on The Garnet Trust Hour on 107.5 The Game this week, Johnson made a passionate pitch for other top recruits to play for his coach.
“I don’t know who’s going to hear this, but if South Carolina is recruiting you, do not sleep (on them),” Johnson said. “Don’t get caught up in the this and that because people do. As a kid, you want to go to the big blue bloods. I ain’t saying they ain’t for you. You know what I mean?
“But don’t sleep on what’s being done in South Carolina and what Coach Paris can let players do. And I think he’s going to continue to show that. I think he’s going to continue to show that he lets his players play, he holds them accountable, and that he can win, you know. And I feel like once we get this thing going and start winning, it’s going to turn around. It’s going to turn around.”
In his first year with South Carolina, Johnson started 29 of 30 games and was second on the team with 12.7 points per game and a team-high 3.7 assists per game.
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Johnson went through the NBA Draft process this offseason but announced in May that he was returning to the team.
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The former Ohio State transfer believes he can continue to grow his game under the tutelage of Paris and the rest of the Carolina staff.
“If you’re coming to college to be you, to learn, to grow, to have someone that’s going to hold you accountable, tell you the truth, but let you play through mistakes, let you play with freedom, let you take your shots,” Johnson said. “I mean, we seen it last year. The guy, he sticks with you. You know what I mean? He encourages you. He picks you up when you’re down. He’s really going to be that. He’s a player’s coach. And I wouldn’t just say that. Coach Paris is a player’s coach.
“And I tremendously all the time just thank him for taking a chance on me. … When you have someone who sticks with their word and pushes you, helps you get better, and is always there for you, man, like I said, I always thank Coach Paris, and what he’s done for me so far in my career.
So, got a lot of ways to go. There’s a lot of ups and downs on the road. But when you have someone who’s about winning and loves the game of basketball and loves players being them(selves), it’s hard to not want that. You know what I mean?”
