Jermaine Johnson (basketball) facts for kids

Jermaine Johnson Sr., born on July 4, 1985, is an American politician and a former professional basketball player. He is a member of the Democratic Party and currently serves in the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 52.

Early Life and Education

Johnson was born in Los Angeles, California. Growing up, his family faced tough times, sometimes having to move between homes. He worked hard and eventually earned three college degrees:

• A Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the College of Charleston.
• A Master of Science (MS) from Strayer University.
• A Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from Northcentral University in 2018.

Athletic Career

Jermaine Johnson was a talented basketball player from a young age.

High School Basketball

Johnson attended several high schools, including Trinity-Pawling School and Redemption Christian Academy. He eventually graduated from The Winchendon School. During high school, he caught the attention of college basketball teams.

College Basketball at Charleston

Johnson chose to play college basketball at the College of Charleston. He became a key player for the Charleston Cougars. In 2008, he scored the very first points in the TD Arena for the Cougars team. He was the team captain in his final year. By the end of his college career, he was one of only four players in the school's history to score at least 1,100 points and grab 850 rebounds.

Professional Basketball Career

After college, Johnson was drafted by the Reno Bighorns in the NBA Development Draft. He also played professional basketball for more than six years in other countries. He played in places like France, Mexico, Hungary, and Canada. In the Mexican Basketball League, he was a star player, averaging 21 points and 8 rebounds per game.

Political Career

After his basketball career, Jermaine Johnson became involved in politics and community work.

Helping the Community

Johnson is the founder and CEO of the New Economic Beginnings Foundation. This organization helps young people and military veterans find jobs and get an education. He also holds several important roles in the Democratic Party in Richland County, South Carolina. He is the 3rd Vice Chair of the Richland County Democratic Party and the Vice Chair of the Young Democrats of the Central Midlands.

South Carolina House of Representatives

In 2020, Johnson decided to run for a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He ran against the person who was already in office, Jimmy Bales. Johnson's campaign focused on ideas like helping communities and improving the economy. He won the Democratic Primary election in June 2020.

After some changes to the district maps in 2022, Johnson's district was combined with another. This meant he had to run against another sitting representative, Wendy Brawley. Johnson won this primary election by a very close margin of only 115 votes.

Currently, Johnson serves on the House Education and Public Works Committee. He is also the Secretary of the House Minority Caucus. In 2023, he helped propose a law to place a monument honoring Robert Smalls on the South Carolina State House grounds. He was also appointed to the Robert Smalls Monument Commission in 2024.

Future Political Plans

On May 31, 2025, Johnson announced that he was thinking about running for governor in the 2026 South Carolina gubernatorial election. He formed a special committee to explore this possibility.

Personal Life

Jermaine Johnson lives in South Carolina with his wife and their four children.