Marcus is the seventh player to earn the award twice and the first since Luke Kennard in 2014 and 2015
(3-19-26) COLUMBUS, Ohio – Senior Marcus Johnson of Garfield Heights High School was named 2026 Ohio Mr. Basketball on Thursday by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association, becoming the seventh player to earn the award twice since it was first handed out in 1988.
Marcus won the award last year as a junior, giving his family the first father-son Ohio Mr. Basketball combination. His father, Sonny, the head coach at Garfield Heights, won the award at Garfield Heights in 1998.
Johnson was also a Mr. Basketball finalist as a sophomore and has been an All-Ohio first-team selection since his freshman year. The state’s reigning Mr. Basketball has been even better this season, averaging 30.1 points with 7.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 2.7 steals.
Johnson won this year’s award with 99 points from the statewide panel. Delphos St. John’s senior Cam Elwer was the runner-up with 91 points. Elwer was the runner-up last season, but significantly closed the gap after receiving 48 points in 2025, while Johnson had 110 points last year. Other finalists included Brunswick senior Trey Drexler, Maysville senior Gator Nichols, Tri-Village senior Trey Sagester, Columbus Academy senior Jason Singleton and Lakota West junior Josh Tyson.
Now in its 39th year, the prestigious Ohio Mr. Basketball award was first given by the Associated Press in 1988. It has been voted on by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association since 2017.
Previous Ohio Mr. Basketball Winners
- 2026 – Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights
- 2025 – Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights
- 2024 – Colin White, Ottawa-Glandorf
- 2023 – Devin Royal, Pickerington Central
- 2022 – Gabe Cupps, Centerville
- 2021 – Malaki Branham, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
- 2020 – VonCameron Davis, Columbus Walnut Ridge
- 2019 – Samari Curtis, Xenia
- 2018 – Dane Goodwin, Upper Arlington
- 2017 – Kaleb Wesson, Westerville South
- 2016 – Xavier Simpson, Lima Senior
- 2015 – Luke Kennard, Franklin High School
- 2014 – Luke Kennard, Franklin High School
- 2013 – Marc Loving, Toledo St. John’s Jesuit
- 2012 – Justin Fritts, Mentor
- 2011 – Trey Burke, Columbus Northland
- 2010 – Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland
- 2009 – Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland
- 2008 – William Buford, Toledo Libbey
- 2007 – Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky
- 2006 – O.J. Mayo, North College Hill
- 2005 – O.J. Mayo, North College Hill
- 2004 – Jamar Butler, Lima Shawnee
- 2003 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
- 2002 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
- 2001 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
- 2000 – (tie) Tony Stockman, Medina; Chester Mason, Cleveland South
- 1999 – Emmanuel Smith, Euclid
- 1998 – William “Sonny” Johnson, Garfield Heights
- 1997 – Kenny Gregory, Independence
- 1996 – Jason Collier, Springfield Catholic
- 1995 – Damon Stringer, Cleveland Heights
- 1994 – Aaron Hutchins, Lima Central Catholic
- 1993 – Geno Ford, Cambridge
- 1992 – Greg Simpson, Lima Senior
- 1991 – Greg Simpson, Lima Senior
- 1990 – Bob Patton Jr., Youngstown Liberty
- 1989 – Jimmy Jackson, Toledo Macomber
- 1988 – Jimmy Jackson, Toledo Macomber
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Walnut Ridge Senior VonCameron Davis Named Ohio Mr. Basketball
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