Mr. Basketball Race Update
What do all of Ohio’s Mr. Basketball winners have in common since 2001? They’re talented — specifically, only Justin Fritts wasn’t a Division I recruit. The next requisite is team success. Finally, they produce. In the last 16 years, only Jared Sullinger didn’t average 20 points per game. However, Sullinger over-compensated on those other two categories.
This season, we’ve narrowed it down to twelve candidates with a month left. Not all of these players pass every barrier of entry, but they all play on Regional Championship contenders. Obviously, those who pass all three are the top candidates.
We’ll split up the dozen players into two categories — those who pass all three tests and those who pass two. Within those groups, the players are coming in order also, with best mid-season candidates at the top. It’s not necessarily who we would vote for, instead whose résumé is best suited for the state’s most prestigious individual award.
Check, Check, Check
Okay so this is the group of players that are all Division I recruits averaging at least 20 points on a Regional Championship contender.
We consider the top four in this group in a league of their own. We’ve added a few extra calculations to let you know how those players were separated within that pantheon.
#1 – Justin Ahrens
Ahrens is averaging right around 28 points, eight rebounds, and four assists after 14 games. The Ohio State signee leads a Versailles team that is 13-1, ranked #8 in Division III this week.
The only ding on Ahrens is that he’s doing this at the Division III level. Amongst the top four, he’s on the least talented team. However, being the only future Buckeye in the state helps his cause. Also, nobody has better numbers.
#2 – Dane Goodwin
The Upper Arlington senior and future member of the Notre Dame basketball team is averaging 23.5 points per game on a 12-1 team that is ranked #4 in Division I.
He’s ranked higher than the next two players because his scoring average is a sliver above and Upper Arlington is ranked higher by the AP poll. The margins are razor thin though.
#3 – Vincent Williams
Williams has led Toledo St. John’s to a 11-2 record while being undefeated against fellow Ohio opponents. As of Jan. 19, the VCU signee was averaging 20.7 points and 11.6 rebounds.
As the #5 team in the Division I poll, the Titans fall right in between the teams of the #2 and #4 candidates.
#4 – Jerome Hunter
The future Indiana Hoosier is at 22.7 points per game on a 12-2 Pickerington North team that is ranked #7 in Division I.
Hunter is very much in the race and could climb the ladder by the end of the season. Pickerington North is on a roll right now and will likely see a bump by the AP poll if they continue playing this well.
#5 – Dwayne Cohill
Cohill falls just outside of the top four, but it’s important to remember that everyone on this list should continue being considered.
Holy Name’s superstar is attending Dayton next season. He’s averaging 21.3 points per game and Holy Name is up to the #5 spot in Division II with a 11-1 record.
#6 – Jelani Simmons
Simmons is another top-flight recruit staying in-state as he’ll join Youngstown State next season. For a 12-1 Beechcroft team ranked #3 in Division II he’s averaging 21.4 points.
#7 – Christian Guess
The most exciting player in Ohio scores an absurd 27.2 points per game for an 8-3 Shaker Heights team that is unranked. Guess is unsigned but holds plenty of Division I offers.
His two-game suspension for technical fouls could cast too big a shadow on his candidacy however. Not only might voters disapprove of his on-court behavior, Shaker also lost two of their three when he was sidelined.
Two of three
All of these players fall just short in one of the three qualifications usually associated with Mr. Basketball. However, as we’ve seen with Justin Fritts and Jared Sullinger, those normalities can be overlooked if the rest of the résumé is outstanding, as it is with these five.
#8 – Sincere Carry
Solon has worked their way up to #2 in Division I with a 12-0 record. Along the way, Carry has averaged 22.7 points, 8.9 assists, and 6.8 rebounds. He’s a Division II signee with West Liberty, the #1 team in the country at that level. He’s an extremely strong candidate, especially if Solon remains undefeated.
#9 – Darius Quisenberry
Quisenberry is quietly putting together a dynamic stat-line of 17.3 points, 7.2 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.2 steals per game for Wayne, the #1 team in Ohio. Quisenberry is signed to play at Youngstown State next season.
#10 – Darius Bazley
The top prospect in Ohio leads a 12-2 Cincinnati Princeton team that will fall out of the AP Poll in Division I after a loss to New Albany. Bazley is averaging a double-double with 17.8 points and 11.6 rebounds. He’ll attend Syracuse next season.
#11 – CJ Penha
Penha passes two of the three measures with flying colors, averaging 22.5 points per game for next week’s #1 team in Division III. He’s a Taylor (IN) pledge, meaning he’d need to become the first NAIA signee to win the award.
#12 – Giovanni Santiago
Santiago, a Puerto Rico native, is a dark-horse candidate. The unsigned point guard is averaging 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.1 steals for Hughes. Even though the Big Red is unranked, they’re 12-2 and will be heard from in the postseason.