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Pickerington Central star Devin Royal named Ohio Mr. Basketball

Dave Purpura, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read

Devin Royal appeared to have entered this season as the envy of every high school basketball player in the state.

Pickerington Central’s 6-foot-6, 210-pound forward was rated the state’s top recruit. He led his team to the Division I state championship as a junior and signed with Ohio State two weeks before the first game of his senior season.

But he still saw one glaring omission on his resume.

Pickerington Central senior Devin Royal, an Ohio State signee, was named Mr. Basketball by a statewide media panel Wednesday.
Pickerington Central senior Devin Royal, an Ohio State signee, was named Mr. Basketball by a statewide media panel Wednesday.

Royal came up short in Ohio Mr. Basketball voting last March to Centerville’s Gabe Cupps, whose team lost to Central 55-48 in the state final.

“Once he got it (last year), I wanted to get it this year even more,” Royal said.

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In the final week of his high school career, mission accomplished.

Royal was named Mr. Basketball by a statewide media panel Wednesday. He edged Cupps by three points in the voting, 90-87.

Devin Royal is averaging 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds and shooting 64.9% from the field entering the Division I state tournament.
Devin Royal is averaging 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds and shooting 64.9% from the field entering the Division I state tournament.

“It means a lot,” Royal said. “I’m happy. I wish I’d have gotten it last year, too, but it’s good to have it. It was one of my goals for sure.

“I am really just focused on state right now, but this was a big goal for me. The biggest goal for me walking into this year was to win state back-to-back. I will celebrate this, though. It’s an award I think I earned for all the work I put in.”

Royal is averaging 19.6 points and 7.6 rebounds and shooting 64.9% from the field for the Tigers (23-5), who play Centerville (25-3) in a Division I state semifinal Saturday at University of Dayton Arena.

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Pickerington Central's Devin Royal throws down a dunk against Africentric on Jan. 21.
Pickerington Central's Devin Royal throws down a dunk against Africentric on Jan. 21.

In its 36th year, Mr. Basketball was first awarded by the Associated Press in 1988. It has been voted on by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association since 2017.

Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s Darryn Peterson was third, followed by Dailyn Swain of Africentric, Jerry Easter II of Toledo Emmanuel Christian, Bede Lori of Caldwell and Luke Skaljac of Brecksville-Broadview Heights.

In the voting, three points were awarded for first place, two for second and one for third.

Devin Royal and Pickerington Central play Centerville in a Division I state semifinal Saturday at University of Dayton Arena.
Devin Royal and Pickerington Central play Centerville in a Division I state semifinal Saturday at University of Dayton Arena.

Royal is Central’s first Mr. Basketball recipient. He is the ninth winner from central Ohio and first since Walnut Ridge’s VonCameron Davis in 2020.

“I’m excited for (Royal) and proud of the season he’s had,” Central coach Eric Krueger said. “He was definitely deserving.”

Other central Ohio winners have been Upper Arlington’s Dane Goodwin (2018), Westerville South’s Kaleb Wesson (2017), Trey Burke of Northland (2010), Northland’s Jared Sullinger (2008 and 2009), West’s Isaac Jefferson (1999) and Independence’s Kenny Gregory (1997).

Ohio Mr. Basketball winners

  • 2023 – Devin Royal, Pickerington Central

  • 2022 – Gabe Cupps, Centerville

  • 2021 – Malaki Branham, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary

  • 2020 – VonCameron Davis, Walnut Ridge

  • 2019 – Samari Curtis, Xenia

  • 2018 – Dane Goodwin, Upper Arlington

  • 2017 – Kaleb Wesson, Westerville South

  • 2016 – Xavier Simpson, Lima Senior

  • 2015 – Luke Kennard, Franklin

  • 2014 – Luke Kennard, Franklin

  • 2013 – Marc Loving, Toledo St. John's

  • 2012 – Justin Fritts, Mentor

  • 2011 – Trey Burke, Northland 

  • 2010 – Jared Sullinger, Northland

  • 2009 – Jared Sullinger, Northland

  • 2008 – William Buford, Toledo Libbey

  • 2007 – Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky

  • 2006 – O.J. Mayo, Cincinnati North College Hill

  • 2005 – O.J. Mayo, Cincinnati North College Hill

  • 2004 – Jamar Butler, Lima Shawnee

  • 2003 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary

  • 2002 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary

  • 2001 – LeBron James, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary

  • 2000 – (tie) Tony Stockman, Medina; Chester Mason, Cleveland South

  • 1999 – Isaac Jefferson, Columbus West

  • 1998 – William "Sonny" Johnson, Garfield Heights

  • 1997 – Kenny Gregory, Independence

  • 1996 – Jason Collier, Springfield Catholic

  • 1995 – Damon Stringer, Cleveland Heights

  • 1994 – Aaron Hutchins, Lima Central Catholic

  • 1993 – Geno Ford, Cambridge

  • 1992 – Greg Simpson, Lima Senior

  • 1991 – Greg Simpson, Lima Senior

  • 1990 – Bob Patton Jr., Youngstown Liberty

  • 1989 – Jimmy Jackson, Toledo Macomber

  • 1988 – Jimmy Jackson, Toledo Macomber

dpurpura@dispatch.com

@dp_dispatch

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Pickerington Central's Devin Royal named Ohio Mr. Basketball