Johnson Earns SEC/National Player of the Week Honors

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior guard Meechie Johnson was named SEC Player of the Week for the second time this season the league office announced on Monday. He shares the honors this week with Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht. In addition, Johnson was also named Lute Olson National Player of the Week as well.

He’s the second Gamecock to earn the National Player of the Week honor from the organization since it started in 2016. All-American Sindarius Thornwell was the last South Carolina player to win the award back in 2017.

Johnson averaged 23.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game in leading the top-25 Gamecocks to pair of wins last week.

He was 17-of-29 from the floor in the two victories, good for 58.6 percent. The Cleveland, Ohio, native had 22 points, five rebounds, three assist, a block and a steal in a 70-68 road win over Texas A&M in College Station. He went 7-of-14 from the floor and hit a trio of 3s. With the shot clock off and the game tied, Johnson drove the length of the floor and had the game-winning assist on a layup by Zachary Davis with 3.0 seconds left.

He followed up his strong performance with 25 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals in a comeback, 82-76 win over No. 24/24 Florida on Saturday. Johnson set a new career-high with 10 made field goals on 15 shot attempts. He scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half in a game that the Gators led by 10 points with just over 13 minutes to play.

Johnson has a career-best nine 20-point games this season and the team improves to 10-3 the last two seasons when he scores 20 or more points.

The No. 17/16 Gamecocks (24-5, 12-4 SEC) welcome in No. 4/4 Tennessee (23-6, 13-3 SEC) in a huge game Wednesday night with SEC Regular Season Championship implications on the line. Carolina is a game behind the Volunteers, who sit alone at the top of the standings at 13-3. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday night with Tom Hart and Jimmy Dykes on the call for the ESPN2 broadcast.

Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early as the team will honor Stephen Clark, Ta’Lon Cooper and B.J. Mack for Senior Night.

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