Meechie Johnson Becoming Heartbeat Of Gamecock Offense

When South Carolina landed Ohio State switch guard Meechie Johnson again in April, there was a excessive quantity of fanfare surrounding the potential of this transfer by Lamont Paris and his teaching workers.

Johnson was rated as the most effective prospects within the nation again within the 2020 recruiting cycle and was an in-state child anticipated by some to play a major position for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

As we have seen earlier than, the sport of life is not at all times variety. That is very true for athletes like Johnson, who suffered a number of accidents each in his highschool and Ohio State profession, stopping him from realizing his full potential within the scarlet and gray.

Johnson wound up transferring to Columbia after his second collegiate season and made it clear that the Gamecocks’ new headman Lamont Paris was a giant purpose for making the transfer.

“It was crucial, simply with the ability to belief coach Paris,” Johnson mentioned in an interview with The Discipline Of 68 Media Community. “My coaches have faith in me. Each sport, he is telling me to go on the market and be in assault mode. He actually believes in me. He believes in [the] gamers. I simply could not ask for a greater scenario, a greater second likelihood… to be who I do know I’m and undergo ups and downs, and have the ability to bounce again. That is essential for a participant.”

That confidence and aggressive mentality that Paris has tried to instill into the roster has hit dwelling with Johnson, who, over the previous 5 video games, is averaging 19.6 factors per sport whereas taking pictures 44.4 p.c from the ground.

He is showcased extra of a willingness to drive to the basket, which, by the Gamecocks’ stronger emphasis on spacing, has made Johnson a risk slashing to the basket and opened the door for weakside shooters to get open seems to be.

It is also evident that when Johnson is off the ground, whereas the Gamecocks do not utterly stall offensively, issues do not function as easily when Meechie is not working the purpose.

Suppose the Gamecocks want to pull off a pair extra upsets as they did towards Kentucky on Tuesday evening. In that case, they will must maintain seeing this model of Meechie Johnson, one which’s been the fruits of trusting the method not simply this season however all through his basketball profession.

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