It is tough to win coming from a small high school and going to a non-D1 college. The only non D1 college player to win Mr. Basketball was Fritts - but he played for a big high school.
Admittedly, it is not every year that we have the 2nd All Time scorer in the state up for the award. Could we see a tie like 2000?
2018 — Dane Goodwin, Upper Arlington, 6-5, sr., Averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds per game. School record 1,951 points, 817 rebounds.
Notre Dame.
2017 — Kaleb Wesson, Westerville South, 6-10, sr., Averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds per game.
Ohio State.
2016 — Xavier Simpson, Lima Senior, 6-0, sr.. Averaged 27.2 points, 6.1 assists, 3.8 steals per game. Played first two years at Lima Central Catholic. Scored 1,946 career points. Had 59 and 65-point games.
Michigan.
2015 — Luke Kennard, Franklin, 6-6, sr. Averaged 38.1 points, 9.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game. Scored 50 or more points in five games. With 2,977 career points he became the No. 2 scorer in Ohio behind 2007 winner Jon Diebler’s 3,208.
Duke University.
2014 — Luke Kennard, Franklin, 6-6, jr. Averaged 41.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals per game. Scored 50 or more points in three games. Shot 42 percent behind the arc and 85 percent at the line. Team won 36 straight league games with him in the lineup. Also an All-Ohio quarterback.
2013 — Marc Loving, Tol. St. John’s, 6-8, sr. Averaged 21.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2 assists per game while shooting 60 percent from the field, 30 percent on 3-pointers and 70 percent at the line. Two-time player of the year in the division. Team went 20-4.
Ohio State.
2012 — Justin Fritts, Mentor, 6-2, sr. Averaged 28.1 points, 8 rebounds, 3.7 steals and 2.9 assists a game. Second-team All-Ohio as a junior, first-team as a senior. Led team to regional tournament.
Wheeling Jesuit.
2011 — Trey Burke, Columbus Northland, 6-1, sr. Averaged 23.9 points, 6.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 2.2 steals in the regular season while shooting 61 percent from the field — 48 percent from three-point range (39 of 81). He shot 70 percent at the line. He led Northland to a 19-1 record and the state tournament for the third time in his four seasons. In his four years, three as a starter, Burke’s teams lost only five games, with a state title, a state semifinalist and a regional runner-up. Northland becomes the first high school represented by two Mr. Basketball winners.
Michigan. Big Ten freshman of the year.
2010 — Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland, 6-9, sr. Averaged 24.5 points, 12.3 rebounds, 3 blocked shots, 2.4 assists a game while shooting 78 percent from the field, 38 percent on 3-pointers and 77 percent on free throws. Becomes fifth player to win the award twice. Won AP regular-season poll title, team ranked No. 1 in nation by USA Today, before upset loss in regional finals.
Ohio State. Consensus first-team All-America and national and Big Ten freshman of the year.
2009 — Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland, 6-9, junior. Averaged 19.9 points, 14.8 rebounds while shooting 67 percent from the field for the state’s No. 1 team in Division I. Led Northland to state championship.
2008 — William Buford, Toledo Libbey, 6-5, sr. Averaged 22.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 5.6 assist a game. Led team to state semifinals in Division II and a 23-2 record. Three-time Toledo City League player of the year. McDonald’s All-American. Shot 62 percent from the field, 46 percent on 3-pointers and 77 percent at the line. 2,000 career points.
Ohio State. Was Big Ten freshman of the year.
2007 — Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky, 6-7, sr. Averaged 42.7 points a game while scoring 3,208 career points to break Jay Burson’s record to become leading Ohio high school player. Also averaged 13.5 points, 7 assists, 5.2 steals and 4.7 blocked shots. Helped team win state championship his sophomore season and play in finals his senior year.
Ohio State.
2006 — O.J. Mayo, Cincinnati North College Hill, 6-5, jr. Averaged 28.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 5 steals for team ranked No. 1 in state for the third year in a row which went on to win second straight state title. Only loss was to national power Oak Hill (Va.) Academy before more than 16,000 in Cincinnati. Led Trojans back to state title defense. Becomes only fourth player to win Mr. Basketball more than once, joining Jim Jackson, Greg Simpson and LeBron James. Transferred to Huntington, W.Va., after the season.
Southern Cal. NBA.
2005 — O.J. Mayo, Cincinnati North College Hill, 6-5, soph. Averaged 28.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 3.4 steals for team ranked No. 1 in state both of his varsity seasons. Becomes only second sophomore to win the award, behind LeBron James. Led North College Hill to first state tournament appearance in 16 years, and first state championship.
2004 — Jamar Butler, Lima Shawnee, 6-2, sr. Averaged 31.6 points, 8.3 assists, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 steals per game while shooting 44 percent from the field, 37 percent on 3-pointers. Scored more than 2,400 points in his career, 10th best all-time in Ohio.
Ohio State.
2003 — LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-8, sr. Averaged 31.6 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 3.4 steals a game. First three-time Mr. Basketball winner. Led team to fourth straight state tournament appearance. Won Division II title. Drafted with the
first pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Miami Heat.
2002 — LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-foot-7, jr. Averaged 29 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals a game while shooting 63 percent from the field. Third two-time Mr. Basketball winner. Led team to third straight state tournament appearance. Won Division III title as freshman and sophomore.
2001 — LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 6-6 1/?2, soph., 25.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists per game. First sophomore to win Mr. Basketball award.
2000 — (tie) Tony Stockman, Medina, 6-2, sr., 25.4 points, 6.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 3.2 steals per game; 50.5 percent field goals, 84.3 percent free throws, 39.7 percent 3-pointers;
Clemson, then Ohio State. And Chester Mason, Cleveland South, 6-3, sr., 25 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists per game.
Miami (Ohio)
1999 — Emmanuel Smith, Euclid, 6-3, sr., 28.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 4.5 steals a game.
Akron.
1998 — William “Sonny” Johnson, Garfield Hts., 6-5, sr., 34.0 points, 17.6 rebounds per game.
Cleveland State, Ohio University.
1997 — Kenny Gregory, Columbus Independence, 6-4, sr., 25.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.8 steals per game; 64.7 percent from the field, 43.2 percent 3-pointers.
Kansas.
1996 — Jason Collier, Springfield Cath. Cent., 7-0, sr., 25.3 points, 13.4 rebounds, 6.6 blocked shots, 4.8 assists per game; 62.1 percent field goals, 37 percent 3-pointers.
Indiana, then Georgia Tech. NBA. Died in 2005.
1995 — Damon Stringer, Cleveland Hts., 5-11, sr., 24.5 points, 7 assists, 5 steals per game.
Ohio State.
1994 — Aaron Hutchins, Lima Central Catholic, 5-10, sr., 25.8 points, 7.8 assists, 5.1 steals per game; 61 percent field goal, 57 percent 3-pointers, 82 percent free throws.
Marquette.
1993 — Geno Ford, Cambridge, 5-9, sr., 35.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game; 2,680 career points, second highest in Ohio.
Ohio University. Now head coach at Bradley.
1992 — Greg Simpson, Lima Senior, 6-1, sr., 35.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 3.1 steals per game; 52.9 percent field goal, 51 percent 3-pointers, 77.4 percent free throws; 45 or more points six times; final 10 games averaged 41 points on 59 percent shooting.
Ohio State.
1991 — Greg Simpson, Lima Senior, 6-1, jr., 32.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 5.1 steals per game; 50.2 percent field goals, 47.2 percent 3-pointers, 72 percent free throws; 13 games with more than 30 points.
1990 — Bob Patton, Youngstown Liberty, 6-0, sr., 21.6 points, 8.3 assists, 4 rebounds per game; 62 percent field goal, 88 percent free throw percentage.
Stanford.
1989 — Jim Jackson, Toledo Macomber, 6-6, sr., 31.5 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 3 steals per game.
Ohio State. NBA.
1988 — Jim Jackson, Toledo Macomber, 6-6, jr., 26.7 points per game.