Johnson, to help with YSU scoring

His father, Marvin Barnes, was an NBA and ABA All-Star.

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State has signed junior college second-team All-American Gemayl “Mel” Johnson to a national letter of intent.

Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 214-pound guard, averaged 19 points and nine rebounds for Montgomery College (Takoma Park-Silver Spring) last season. He was also named to the first-team Maryland JUCO Athletic Conference team.

Penguins coach Jerry Slocum said Johnson brings some solid on-court credentials to the program.

“He will bring some tremendous scoring ability to our wings,” Slocum said. “He has a solid overall game and will help us in both scoring and rebounding.”

Montgomery coach Daryl Butler said Johnson was his best player in 10 years.

“[YSU] got a steal,” Butler said. “He was our go-to guy, he could score, he could rebound, you name it he could do it. He was also a great leader and you can’t control that in a player. He is a good kid who is very coachable and has a high knowledge of the game.”

Terrific year

Last season Johnson shot 73.4 percent at the free throw line and 47.2 percent from the field. He had 130 assists and 46 steals.

Johnson, a graduate of Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Va., said the chemistry he felt with the players he met during his visit and his time with the coaching staff helped him pick YSU.

“The coaches and players made me feel real comfortable,” Johnson said. “It felt like I was part of the team already. It was a similar situation when I picked my junior college. I could have gone to California or Kansas, but this was the right fit, like Youngstown State. I really like Coach Slocum. You can see by his record his is a coach who knows how to win and I just want to be a part of that.”

Butler raved about Johnson’s ability to elevate his team.

“He’s a one-of-a-kind type of guy,” Butler said. “He makes the players around him better. You tell him to do something and you know he is going to go out there and do it, and do it right the first time. He sees the floor so well it’s unbelievable. At 6-5 he could look over the guards in our league and when I needed him to post up he was a big asset down on the block.”

Johnson also considered UM-Baltimore County, Delaware State and Morgan State, said Butler.

His father is former NBA-ABA All-Star Marvin Barnes.

“I put it on my shoulders to be a leader,” Johnson said. “I’m just a natural leader. I lead by example and by being vocal. I always took the blame for our losses and put in on my shoulders.”