{"id":190923,"date":"2025-03-20T12:39:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-20T17:39:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=190923"},"modified":"2025-03-20T12:39:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T17:39:35","slug":"johnson-joins-father-as-mr-basketball","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2025\/03\/20\/johnson-joins-father-as-mr-basketball\/","title":{"rendered":"Johnson joins father as Mr. Basketball"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Matt Goul, Cleveland.com, (Plain Dealer)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marcus Johnson knew at a young age that expectations would be high for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His father won Mr. Basketball in 1998 at Garfield Heights and went on to a college career at Ohio University and Cleveland State. His older brother and cousin also earned Division I college scholarships, while he played up a grade-level or two on the AAU circuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson developed a consistent shooting touch with his left hand and an ambidextrous style to use his right when necessary. His family and many others around Garfield Heights anticipated his high school arrival, which began with an All-Ohio caliber performance as a ninth grader. Johnson repeated on the All-Ohio first team as a sophomore and now is the state\u2019s Mr. Basketball, following the OHSAA\u2019s announcement Thursday after a vote by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. Delphos St. John’s guard Cameron Elwer was the runner-up. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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Garfield Heights High School junior Marcus Johnson was named Ohio Mr. Basketball Thursday. Cleveland.com photo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a blessing,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cTo be the first one with my dad, I put in a lot of work. I just got to keep working hard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike his father and coach, Sonny Johnson, Marcus receives Ohio\u2019s top individual award for a high school boys basketball player as a junior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He earned it after being selected as a finalist last season among a senior-laden cast that included Ohio State recruit and winner Collin White and Lutheran East\u2019s Jesse McCulloch, who finished as the runner-up. Johnson again received the Northeast Lakes District nod this year before a statewide vote. Delphos St. John\u2019s Cam Elwer finished as the runner-up from the Northwest District, while Olentangy Orange\u2019s Devin Brown placed third from the Central District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greater Cleveland area in Cuyahoga County has not produced a Mr. Basketball winner since 2000, when Cleveland South\u2019s Chet Mason shared the award with Medina\u2019s Tony Stockman. To be placed in that group, Sonny Johnson told his son, \u201cWelcome to the family.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a prestigious family,\u201d the elder Johnson said. \u201cTo be a part of a lot of great players, to be the best player in your entire state and be recognized, there is not a bigger accomplishment that you can have individually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a 6-foot-2 guard, Marcus Johnson averaged 29.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with 4.7 assists and 2.2 steals. Garfield Heights (24-3) made it back to the regional finals and broke through to the Division III state semifinals, where the Bulldogs went down to the wire with Louisville before a 49-48 loss Sunday at the Canton Memorial Field House. Johnson scored 25 points through the first three quarters, but he missed part of the fourth quarter after a hard fall in front of the scorer\u2019s table while trying to corral a loose ball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Johnson returned to finish the game, which prompted Louisville coach Tom Siegfried to approach Sonny Johnson after the sold-out crowd departed the Field House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBest player I ever coached against,\u201d Siegfried told him. \u201cWe had no answer for him. Just keep grinding. He has bigger stuff than what\u2019s going on right here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson garnered national attention by making the ESPN Top 60 for the Class of 2026. As of state championship weekend, he is ranked 21st <\/sup>in the country. Perhaps he and longtime friend T.J. Crumble of Lutheran East were destined for it, as both are rated four stars by most recruiting services and played together on a fifth-grade AAU team that won national tournaments in Orlando and Las Vegas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s one of Johnson\u2019s first and best basketball memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More came this season with the Bulldogs winning their third straight Lake Erie League title. Johnson broke his dad\u2019s single-game scoring record at Garfield Heights with 55 points in a win against Maple Heights. Soon, they sought to exceed the Division I regional final runs of the previous two seasons. With the OHSAA\u2019s new seven-division format, Garfield Heights found itself in a new division with more schools of similar size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So did Louisville, which had been contending at the same levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Basketball took Sunday\u2019s setback in stride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA lot of people didn\u2019t think we would make it even as far as the Final Four,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like we proved a lot of people wrong. I learned the game even more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even with four starters graduated from last year\u2019s regional final team in Division I, Johnson looked to set up his teammates before taking his shot. It\u2019s something that stuck with opposing coaches, including Archbishop Hoban\u2019s T.K. Griffith after the Bulldogs ended their state-title defense in 2024 and stopped them again this season in the regional finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnson scored 26 points with five rebounds, four assists and five steals in a 58-45 win earlier this month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe has an uncanny ability to create his own shot, but also be patient,\u201d Griffith said. \u201cNot a lot of high school players, who are good, have a nice tempo to their game. Even though he does shoot a lot, I don\u2019t feel they\u2019re forced.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That approach has led Garfield Heights to a 72-9 record in Johnson\u2019s three years as its leading scorer. His father admits he is already better than he ever was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe went a lot further than I ever did,\u201d Sonny Johnson said. \u201cHis record is beyond crazy. Two Elite Eights and one state Final Four. His resume for us is exceptional.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Marcus, Sonny played for his father at Garfield Heights. They lost William Johnson, a longtime pastor, two years ago after a battle with cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastor Johnson never missed his son\u2019s games. He didn\u2019t get to see what his grandson has become, but his spirit remains with them as they head to Dayton this weekend to celebrate another Mr. Basketball in the family. Marcus\u2019 mother, Sianez, and older siblings Sonny Jr., Serena and Mia also will be in attendance to share the moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited for it,\u201d Marcus Johnson said. \u201cObviously, I want to go down there to play in the championship, but God always makes another way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That other way could be redemption next season, one more run with his father, or it could be graduating early to begin his college basketball career at Ohio State. Johnson, whose grade-point average exceeds 3.0, and his father said they are considering having Marcus take summer classes and reach his requirements to do that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They plan to make a decision later this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

###<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ohio Mr. Basketball Winners<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2025 \u2013 Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 \u2013 Colin White, Ottawa-Glandorf<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 \u2013 Devin Royal, Pickerington Central<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022 \u2013 Gabe Cupps, Centerville<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2021 \u2013 Malaki Branham, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2020 \u2013 VonCameron Davis, Columbus Walnut Ridge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2019 \u2013 Samari Curtis, Xenia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2018 – Dane Goodwin, Upper Arlington<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2017 – Kaleb Wesson, Westerville South<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2016 – Xavier Simpson, Lima Senior  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015 – Luke Kennard, Franklin High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2014 – Luke Kennard, Franklin High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2013 – Marc Loving, Toledo St. John’s Jesuit  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2012 – Justin Fritts, Mentor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2011 – Trey Burke, Columbus Northland <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2010 – Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2009 – Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008 – William Buford, Toledo Libbey  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2007 – Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2006 – O.J. Mayo, North College Hill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2005 – O.J. Mayo, North College Hill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2004 – Jamar Butler, Lima Shawnee  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2003 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2002 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2001 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2000 – (tie) Tony Stockman, Medina; Chester Mason, Cleveland South<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1999 – Emmanuel Smith, Euclid    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1998 – William “Sonny” Johnson, Garfield Heights  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997 – Kenny Gregory, Independence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996 – Jason Collier, Springfield Catholic<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1995 – Damon Stringer, Cleveland Heights<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1994 – Aaron Hutchins, Lima Central Catholic<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1993 – Geno Ford, Cambridge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1992 – Greg Simpson, Lima Senior<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1991 – Greg Simpson, Lima Senior<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1990 – Bob Patton Jr., Youngstown Liberty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1989 – Jimmy Jackson, Toledo Macomber<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1988 – Jimmy Jackson, Toledo Macomber<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Matt Goul, Cleveland.com, (Plain Dealer) Marcus Johnson knew at a young age that expectations would be high for him. His father won Mr. Basketball in 1998 at Garfield Heights and went on to a college career at Ohio University and Cleveland State. His older brother and cousin also earned Division I college scholarships, while he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-190923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-03 08:32:55","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=190923"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":190929,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/190923\/revisions\/190929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=190923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=190923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=190923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}