OHIO — There's a saying that goes, "like father, like son."
And that's especially true for one family in Ohio.
Junior Marcus Johnson of Garfield Heights High School was named the 2025 Ohio Mr. Basketball on Thursday by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. His father, Sonny, who is also the head coach at Garfield Heights, won the award in 1998.
Marcus is also the first to win the award as a high school junior.
"I’m getting sick of him, breaking all my records, coming after Mr. Basketball," Sonny joked in a previous interview with Spectrum News 1. "But no, everything he’s getting, he’s deserving of it. And it’s all hard work. When you put forth the work, the results are going to show.”
Additionally, the Greater Cleveland area has not had a Mr. Basketball winner since 2000, when Cleveland South's Chet Mason won the award with Medina's Tony Stockman.
Marcus' record so far this season makes him stand out from the crowd of players. He averaged 29.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In the Division III state semifinals, he helped the team beat Louisville by scoring 25 points throughout the first three quarters.
Marcus will be awarded this weekend at the University of Dayton Arena during the OHSAA boys basketball championships, which is also when Glenville takes on Maysville this Friday for the Division III state title.
“We’ve never won a championship here at Garfield," Marcus said in a previous interview. "Our main goal is to stay locked in and get a win and get a championship ring.”
The Ohio High School Athletic Association said Marcus won the award this season with 110 points from the statewide panel. Delphos St. John's Junior Cam Elwer was the runner-up with 48 points, and Olentangy Orange senior Devin Brown placed third with 43 points.
To watch the OHSAA basketball championships, click here.
