In a college basketball transfer portal saga that reads like a comedy sketch, Ohio State senior guard Meechie Johnson has left fans and analysts bewildered. The guard’s ping-pong journey between the Buckeyes and South Carolina reached new heights today with an announcement that has everyone asking, “Is this real or an April Fool’s prank?”
Johnson’s career path has become the ultimate road trip. After two seasons at Ohio State to begin his career, he transferred to South Carolina for two seasons. Then, last offseason, he transferred back to Ohio State for the 2024-25 season. This is all capped off by the most recent announcement that he will return to South Carolina for the 2025-26 season.
Meechie Johnson: Transfer Portal’s Most Frequent Flyer?
Guard Meechie Johnson might have earned an unofficial title in college basketball: the transfer portal’s most traveled player.
The former four-star recruit began at Ohio State before finding success at South Carolina, averaging 14.1 points per game. His return to the Buckeyes last year yielded 9.1 points per game before today’s shocking announcement of yet another move.
BREAKING: Ohio State transfer guard Meechie Johnson has committed to South Carolina🤙https://t.co/mzMe9luCgH pic.twitter.com/nvvzR5c1gz
— On3 (@On3sports) April 1, 2025
“Meechie Johnson played 2 years at Ohio State, transferred to South Carolina and played 2 years there, transferred back to Ohio State, and is now transferring back to South Carolina. That’s just hilarious,” wrote an X user, capturing the unprecedented nature of this basketball odyssey.
Three days before today’s announcement, when Johnson first re-entered the portal from Ohio State, one fan likened him to a collector, “Meechie Johnson in the portal again? Bro’s collecting schools like Pokémon cards.”
This sentiment circulated even before his South Carolina return was confirmed.
April Fools’ Day Announcement Fuels Speculation
Johnson’s latest announcement’s timing, coinciding with April 1, has only fueled the surreal nature of the situation. Many initially questioned whether this was an elaborate prank.
“Is this an April Fool’s joke? This man confused, ain’t he?” posted one X user while another simply asked, “April fools?”
“Not sure if it’s real,” commented another fan, reflecting widespread skepticism about the announcement’s timing. Johnson’s fourth transfer falling on a day known for pranks has created the perfect storm of confusion for basketball followers across social media platforms.
Johnson’s announcement on social media included the caption, “I’m back 🙏🏽 Isaiah 40:31 Rip Pops #UnHeardOf.” Well, this announcement certainly fits the “#UnHeardOf” hashtag; only a few players have carved such a circular path through the transfer portal.
His post received a mix of confusion, support, and incredulity from the basketball community.
View this post on Instagram
South Carolina fans seem largely willing to welcome Johnson back despite the unusual circumstances.
“WELCOME BACK HOME YOUNG MAN!!! Forever to thee 🤙♥️🥩,” wrote one enthusiastic supporter. Another posted, “Welcome back, but also I’m so confused,” perfectly encapsulating the mixed emotions.
Ohio State supporters have been notably less enthusiastic about Johnson’s departure. Some have pointed to his indecisiveness, with one fan commenting, “How can a point guard be so indecisive?” while others took shots at the entire transfer portal system: “Isn’t the Portal just awesome 🤪🙄.”
College basketball analysts are still trying to make sense of Johnson’s unique journey. With no clear explanation yet for his latest decision to leave Ohio State after just one season back, speculation continues to swirl. Some wonder if playing time, team chemistry or personal reasons motivated the move.
2025 Men’s Transfer Portal: The Top 10 Players Who Could Shake Up College Hoops
One critic on social media remarked, “This career path is so laughable,” while others were more charitable.
“Good for him, man. Hopefully, we see the SC version of Meechie. He was fun!”
Whether Johnson’s latest transfer sticks remains to be seen. For now, he holds the unofficial record for most back-and-forth transfers between the same two schools, cementing his place in transfer portal lore regardless of what happens next. As one fan aptly put it, “Time’s loop is tightening.”
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness! Download your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket and stay on top of every game, matchup, and Cinderella story. Get yours now!
