Ohio State Guard Meechie Johnson Enters Transfer Portal

By Griffin Strom on April 12, 2022 at 5:01p

For the second time this offseason, a member of the Buckeyes' 2021-22 roster has entered the transfer portal.

Meechie Johnson, a second-year freshman guard for Ohio State last season, announced Tuesday on social media that his next step will likely be elsewhere.

Johnson said he "always dreamed" of playing at Ohio State, but after averaging just 4.4 points in 17.7 minutes per game last year, the Cleveland native will continue his collegiate journey outside of Columbus.

On April 4, Ohio State senior captain Justin Ahrens became the first Buckeye player to enter the transfer portal this offseason, and with the scarlet and gray coaching staff still heavily recruiting the transfer portal even after the addition of former Wright State guard Tanner Holden on April 2, it seemed likely that more roster turnover could take place. 

Battling through injuries this past year, Johnson appeared in 26 games and started five of them for the Buckeyes, but shot just 30.8 percent from the floor and 27.8 percent from 2-point range.

Johnson reclassified to join Ohio State a year early in 2020, but appeared in just 17 games for the Buckeyes two seasons ago as he played just 5.8 minutes per game as a true freshman.

Johnson is the latest in a laundry list of backcourt contributors to depart from the Buckeye program this offseason. Jamari Wheeler, Cedric Russell and Jimmy Sotos all exhausted their eligibility this past year, while Malaki Branham recently announced he will test the NBA draft process this offseason, leaving the Buckeyes without a slew of guards that they had at their disposal in 2021-22.