Meramec's Johnson becomes fourth signing of week

The signings keep coming for the Southeast Missouri State men's basketball program.

Redhawks coach Gary Garner on Wednesday received junior college swingman David Johnson's national letter of intent. He is the fourth announced player signing this week.

Johnson, a 6-foot-4 sophomore at Meramec Community College in St. Louis, averaged 13.8 points and 4.1 rebounds for a team that went 28-8 and finished third at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II tournament.

Johnson, who played high school basketball at CBC in St. Louis County, shot 40 percent from the field, 36 percent from 3-point range and 69 percent from the free-throw line.

"He's a very good athlete who can play the 2 or 3 position," Garner said. "He can really shoot the 3, he can really jump, and I like the fact that he was Meramec's best defender. He can definitely come in and help us win basketball games next year."

Earlier this week, Southeast announced the signings of 6-8 center Andrais Thornton from SMS-West Plains Community College, 6-6 forward John Chappell from Highland (Ill.) Community College and 6-4 guard Eric Jones from Webster Groves High School in St. Louis.

"I really like our signings so far," said Garner, who expects to sign several more players in the next few weeks. "We have really upgraded our athleticism."