SW Ohio Unsigned Seniors

Mo Njie

Even though several of Southwest Ohio’s top seniors are already off the recruiting board, having committed to play basketball (or in some cases football) at an NCAA D1, D2 or NAIA program, the region is still full of unsigned talent in the senior class of 2020. In today’s article, we’re taking a look at who those players are, in our rundown of Southwest Ohio’s top unsigned seniors…

Mo Njie – 6’9 C Centerville: Our Twitter account was full of praises of Njie last weekend, when we watched the mobile shot-blocker put together an impressive two-way performance in a close loss to Huber Heights Wayne. Njie tops this list based on his ability to impact the game defensively, as he’s an active rim protector who has become adept at going straight up to avoid fouling. Playing a bigger offensive role then he did a year ago, Njie plays a simple style in which he tries to pin his defender and explode up for drop-step dunks in traffic. Njie currently holds six NCAA D1 offers, the most of anyone on this list.

Nekhi Smith – 6’5 PF Cincinnati Taft: An inside-outside forward who has been hampered early this season by a knee injury, Smith has appeared in the majority of Taft’s games, despite not being 100% healthy. A strong-bodied forward who averaged 20 PPG and 12 RPG last season when healthy, Smith can score from 17-feet and in, and is particularly good around the rim at using his strength, athleticism and touch to create mismatches. This season Smith has been trying to stretch the defense with his three-point shot as he could be expected to play some on the wing at the college level at 6’5. Heading into the New Year, Smith presently holds one NCAA D1 offer from Detroit.

Mark Wise – 6’3 PG/SG Cincinnati Deer Park: Like Smith, Wise has been banged up to start the season, and has had his minutes limited as he regains strength from a foot injury. When fully healthy Wise is one of Cincinnati’s best, as the combo guard is already Deer Park’s all-time leading scorer, having averaged 18 PPG last season. Wise is a strong guard who can play on or off the ball and is also known as an above average perimeter defender. As he proves to college coaches that he can shoot the ball consistently from the outside, Wise could add to his offer list, which currently includes Florida Atlantic and Detroit.

Deairius Barker-Randle – 6’0 PG Cincinnati Princeton: One of the GMC’s best players since transferring into Princeton as a junior, Randle is a big time shooter who has improved greatly as a primary ballhandler and distributor over the last year. A budding athlete who has added strength to his frame, and, as a result is significantly more explosive, Randle is currently averaging over 15 PPG for Princeton. While he’s proven he can play the traditional point guard role, what Randle does best is play the new school point guard role by scoring it from the outside and trying to attack the lane to draw fouls when the opportunity presents itself. Currently holding a few NCAA D2 and NAIA offers, we expect Randle’s offer list to explode to include all the top regional NCAA D2 schools before the end of the high school season.

Curtis Harrison – 6’7 PF Cincinnati Seven Hills: Harrison has been off to a dominant start to his final high school season, averaging over 25 PPG and over 7 RPG in his first five contests, proving to college coaches that this late bloomer is starting to match his potential with on-court production. A strong 6’7 forward with an elite frame, Harrison is not only athletic, but he’s just starting to scratch the surface of his physical potential. While he’s still best utilized around the rim, Harrison has also made 11 three-pointers on the season at a 38% clip, further proof that his best basketball has not been played yet. As of now, Harrison lists a D1 offer from Buffalo as well as multiple D2 offers, and we’ll be interested to see if any other schools jump in late on Harrison, who sometimes can be overlooked playing in Ohio’s smallest high school division.

Leroy Walker – 6’4 SF Cincinnati Taft: As good of an athlete as you’ll find anywhere in Ohio, and likely one of the bounciest players in the country, Walker has been a spark-plug for Taft in his first season in the Cincinnati City League. Known primarily as a dunker, Walker has proven that he can play skilled basketball too, shooting the ball with consistency from the three-point line and playing more controlled in attacking the basket in Taft’s fast-paced style. A high motor player with good positional size, as Walker continues to improve his skill-set his upside becomes enormous based on his physical gifts, most notably that explosiveness we alluded to earlier. As the youngest student in the entire Taft senior class, Walker is still considering his options for next year, with prep school and JUCO both being on the table for now.

Honorable Mention: Kaleb Crawford (PG Princeton), Kionte Thomas (PG Cincinnati Hughes), Steve Gentry Jr (PG Deer Park), Kaden Fuhrmann (SG Lakota East), Carl Blanton (SG Trotwood Madison), Greg Stewart (SG Cincinnati Aiken), Trevon Ellis (SG Dayton Stivers), Ed Abernathy (SG Cincinnati Walnut Hills), Brady Uhl (SG Kettering Alter), Demetrius Watkins (SG Cincinnati West High), Julian Mackey (SG Lakota West), Mitchell Greer (SG Mason), Aaron Ward (PF Cincinnati Winton Woods), Anthony Felder (PF Cincinnati Hughes), Kyle Cardenas (PF Cincinnati Shroder), Davion Mace (C Cincinnati Woodward), Nic Smith (C Cincinnati Walnut Hills), Conor Stolly (C Kettering Alter)