Top Southwest Ohio junior boys basketball players heading into the 2025-2026 season

It’s almost hoops time in Ohio as the season is just around the corner. Four Southwest Ohio boys teams reached the Final Four of the state tournament across seven divisions last season, and with tons of talent spread across Cincinnati we could be in for a repeat in 2025-2026.

The Enquirer has already broken down the top 25 Southwest Ohio seniors to watch, and so it’s time to turn our attention to the juniors. Though it can be difficult to earn playing time as an underclassman, these players made the cut last year and had a huge impact on their teams.

Continuing The Enquirer’s previews and breakdowns of the year to come, here are the top 10 Southwest Ohio juniors to watch, listed alphabetically, for the 2025-2026 season. Watch for a separate story for Northern Kentucky and Indiana juniors.

Eli Beck, Madeira

A star on the baseball diamond as well, Beck was already the Mustangs’ leading scorer as a sophomore with 12 points per game. His ability to get to the rim for quality shots helped him shoot over 63% from the floor last year. He shoots well from three at over 38%, but he only took 44 threes last year. Beck was selected second-team all-conference in the Cincinnati Hills league in 2024-2025, and should continue to improve this season.

Bryce Curry, Lakota West

One of two sophomores who helped lead Lakota West to the state Final Four last season, Curry uses his length and athleticism to impact the game. At 6-foot-4, his ability to finish above the rim led him to average 11.9 points per game on 52% shooting, also grabbing 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals a game. Curry was named to the all-conference first team in the Greater Miami Conference and an All-Ohio honorable mention. With fellow junior Josh Tyson also returning for the Firebirds, Lakota West will be a threat to make a deep tournament run once again.

Keion Griffin, Taft

Griffin earned first-team All-Ohio honors last season in Division IV after leading the Senators in scoring with 17.9 points per game. His outside shooting and defense make him dangerous as he shot above 35% from deep and averaged 2.2 steals and two blocks a game. Taft returns all five of its leading scorers from last year, with Griffin looking to put up monster numbers yet again.

Jayceon Kibler, Wilmington

Although he missed the back half of last season, Kibler finished as the leading per-game scorer in the Southern Buckeye Academic and Athletic Conference with 19 points per game on 36% three-point shooting. As a freshman Kibler was already a first-team all-conference pick for the American Division in the SBAAC, and as long as he stays healthy he’ll be in the conversation for player of the year in his junior season.

Isaiah Mack-Russell, Winton Woods

Mack-Russell is a high-impact transfer for a Winton Woods team that already brought back a lot of talent from last year’s 23-2 season. The 109th overall player in the 2027 class, according to 247 Sports, he averaged 18.8 points per game at Toledo Central Catholic last year. He has several Division I offers, including Ohio State, Cincinnati and Dayton. Mack-Russell looks poised to be a major weapon in another deep Winton Woods run.

Braylon Settelmayer, Goshen

Settelmayer won Player of the Year in the SBAAC’s American Division last year, averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and two steals per game. He was also an OHSAA Division III all-state honorable mention as he led Goshen to win the American Division with a 9-1 conference record. With the team returning its top three scorers and Settelmayer there to run the offense, expect another strong season from Goshen.

Monsanna Torbert, Taft

The star quarterback for the Senators was also the second-leading scorer on the hardwood last season with 14.7 points per game. Torbert’s 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals a game were also good for second best on the team as he earned first-team all-conference honors in the Cincinnati Metro Conference’s Red Division and was named a Division IV All-Ohio honorable mention.

Josh Tyson, Lakota West

Tyson led the Firebirds’ offense last year en route to a state Final Four appearance, netting himself second-team All-Ohio honors. With 15.5 points per game on lights-out 60% shooting, including 42% from three, Tyson’s offensive firepower also granted him a spot as an all-conference first-teamer. As the team’s leader in assists as well, Tyson is more than capable of burning opponents if they try to force the ball out of his hands.

Chris Washington, Purcell Marian

In his sophomore campaign, Washington torched opposing defenses on his way to 22.1 points per game. Adding 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and two steals, he earned his place on the Miami Valley Conference’s all-league first team. In his final regular-season game last season, Washington scored 38 points on 13-of-14 shooting, including 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. If he picks up where he left off, he’ll be at the top of the list for MVC Player of the Year.

Grant Waters, McNicholas

An All-Ohio special mention and first-team all-conference selection out of the Greater Catholic League-Coed, Water used deadeye shooting to lead the league in scoring. Splashing in 90 threes on nearly 41.9% shooting, he averaged 18.2 points per game as a sophomore. With just one other GCL-Coed first-teamer returning for the 2025-2026 season, Waters is primed to make another run at athlete of the year.