For the month of January, The Daily Gamecock chose to recognize redshirt senior guard Meechie Johnson as its Player of the Month for South Carolina men's basketball. While the Gamecocks went 2-7 in conference play in January, Johnson score more than 20 total points and five total assists in multiple games.
In January’s SEC slate, Johnson was the focal point of the Gamecocks’ offense and regularly led the team in scoring and playmaking. In the Gamecocks’ 85-76 SEC win over Oklahoma on Jan. 20, Johnson scored 20 points, with 18 coming in the second half, and he helped secure the victory by sinking six straight free throws in the final minute. In a loss to Texas A&M on Jan. 24, he scored 26 points, added five assists and four rebounds and finished 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.
Since returning to South Carolina, Johnson has taken on a larger leadership role as he frequently handles primary ball-handling duties and serves as a vocal presence on the floor during late-game situations and timeouts.
"Me as a leader, I just got to keep everybody's spirits up, keep everybody in a good head space and just fight to the end," Johnson said.
Against Auburn on Jan. 17, he led South Carolina with 17 points, added six assists and five rebounds and hit a crucial 3-pointer late in the game, though Auburn ultimately prevailed 71-67. In the month’s final game on Jan. 31, Johnson scored 21 points with six assists and five rebounds in a 92-87 overtime loss to LSU, showcasing his all-around production in a competitive contest.
Head coach Lamont Parishas pointed to Johnson's role in running the offense and maintaining communication on the floor, particularly during SEC stretches and late-game situations when South Carolina has leaned on veteran guards to manage possessions.
"Meechie certainly was a very calming voice with his teammates," Paris said.
Throughout his second stint with the program following a transfer away from Columbia, Johnson has taken on a larger on-court role compared to his previous time in a Gamecock uniform. In the 2022–23 season, his first with South Carolina, he started all 30 games, averaging 12.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game and was the only Gamecock to start all 18 SEC contests before transferring to Ohio State and later returning to Columbia.
His ability to create offense, manage possessions and contribute across multiple statistical categories has coincided with increased usage in South Carolina’s offensive sets and late-game situations during conference play.
Coaches and teammates have remarked that Johnson now serves not only as a scorer but as a floor general who sets up teammates, makes crucial decisions in tight moments and maintains composure in high-pressure situations.
"Meechie is our leading point-guard, we want to give him the ball ... We trust him," redshirt senior guard Kobe Knox said. "We keep feeding him confidence, and I know he is one of the most confident people that I've ever played with."
Johnson’s scoring outputs were frequently among the team’s best, and he showed a strong ability to get to the foul line and convert free throws, particularly in key moments. Over January’s SEC games, he averaged near or above his season scoring marks and was often a leader in both points and assists for South Carolina.
Across the month of January, Johnson’s combination of scoring, facilitating, and free-throw precision — especially in SEC matchups — made him the standout performer and justified his selection as Player of the Month.