COLUMBIA, S.C. – Head coach Lamont Paris announced a major addition to the program on Sunday in the early signing period for the 2026 class. Marcus Johnson, one of the top point guard prospects in the country, has signed a financial aid agreement to continue his basketball career at South Carolina next fall.

Johnson, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, is first cousins with current Gamecock and All-SEC guard Meechie Johnson.

A two-time Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and the 2025 Ohio Mr. Basketball winner, he is a consensus four-star recruit and ranked in the top-50 nationally. He’s rated the No. 3 point guard in the country and the No. 3 player in the state of Ohio by 247Sports.

“Marcus is a tough kid,” said Paris. “He can be so explosive as a scorer, but more importantly he has always shown the know-how and the willingness to make plays for his teammates as well. He has great creativity as an offensive player and knows how to get into nooks and crannies without getting himself into trouble.  He is very good at attacking situations in transition and in the paint but is just as comfortable putting pressure on defenses from behind the 3-point line too. In addition, I really believe Marcus has the potential to be a very impactful defender, particularly on the ball.”

Johnson, who preps at Garfield Heights playing under his father, Sonny, became the first player in program history to win Gatorade Player of the Year in 2024 after averaging 23.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game his sophomore season. He won the prestigious award again after a strong junior campaign in 2024-25, averaging 29.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Johnson was named 2025 Ohio Mr. Basketball in March as he and his father became the first father-son duo to win Mr. Basketball in Ohio history. Sonny won the award at Garfield Heights in 1998.

Johnson is a three-time First Team All-Ohio selection, becoming the first ever freshman to earn the distinction in 2023. He becomes the first ever Mr. Basketball outside of the Palmetto State to sign at South Carolina.

Photos courtesy of Cleveland.com and Scott Mayberry Photography.

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