Boys basketball: Garfield Heights' Marcus Johnson follows in father's footsteps as Mr. Basketball

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 played up a grade level or two on the AAU circuits. 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's Mr. Basketball, following the OHSAA's announcement Thursday after a vote by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association. "It's a blessing," Johnson said. "To be the first one with my dad, I put in a lot of work." Unlike his father and coach, Sonny Johnson, Marcus receives Ohio's top individual award for a high school boys basketball player as a junior. 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's 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's Cam Elwer finished as the runner-up from the Northwest District, while Olentangy Orange's Devin Brown placed third from the Central District. Brunswick junior point guard Trey Drexler also was a finalist. The Greater Cleveland area in Cuyahoga County has not produced a Mr. Basketball winner since 2000, when Cleveland South's Chet Mason shared the award with Medina's Tony Stockman. To be placed in that group, Sonny Johnson told his son, "Welcome to the family." "That's a prestigious family," the elder Johnson said. "To 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." As a 6-foot-2 guard, Marcus Johnson averaged 29.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 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 after a hard fall in front of the scorer's table while trying to corral a loose ball. 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. "Best player I ever coached against," Siegfried told him. "We had no answer for him. Just keep grinding. He has bigger stuff than what's going on right here." Johnson garnered national attention by making the ESPN Top 60 for the Class of 2026. As of state championship weekend, he is ranked 21st 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. It's one of Johnson's first and best basketball memories. More came this season with the Bulldogs winning their third straight Lake Erie League title. Johnson broke his dad's single-game scoring record at Garfield Heights with 55 points in a win against Maple Heights. Even with four starters graduated from last year's regional final team in D-I, Johnson looked to set up his teammates before taking his shot. It's something that stuck with opposing coaches, including Archbishop Hoban's T.K. Griffith after the Bulldogs ended their state-title defense in 2024 and stopped them again this season in the regional finals. Johnson scored 26 points with five rebounds, four assists and five steals in a 58-45 win earlier this month. "He has an uncanny ability to create his own shot, but also be patient," Griffith said. "Not 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't feel they're forced." That approach has led Garfield Heights to a 72-9 record in Johnson's three years as its leading scorer. His father admits he is already better than he ever was. "He went a lot further than I ever did," Sonny Johnson said. "His record is beyond crazy." 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. Pastor Johnson never missed his son's games. He didn't 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' mother, Sianez, and older siblings Sonny Jr., Serena and Mia also will be in attendance to share the moment. "I'm excited for it," Marcus Johnson said. "Obviously, I want to go down there to play in the championship, but God always makes another way." 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. They plan to make a decision later this spring.