COLUMBUS — This has become a very interesting week in the life of Shelby’s Alex Bruskotter.
On Saturday night, the 6-foot-5 senior scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Shelby past Lexington 62-52 to earn a ticket to the Sweet 16.
It marked just the fourth Northwest District championship in school history.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Wright State University commitment learned he’s a finalist for Mr. Basketball.
Ohio’s Mr. Basketball honors
2023 – Devin Royal, Pickerington Central
2022 – Gabe Cupps, Centerville
2021 – Malaki Branham, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary
2020 – VonCameron Davis, Columbus 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 High School
2014 – Luke Kennard, Franklin High School
2013 – Marc Loving, Toledo St. John’s Jesuit
2012 – Justin Fritts, Mentor
2011 – Trey Burke, Columbus Northland
2010 – Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland
2009 – Jared Sullinger, Columbus Northland
2008 – William Buford, Toledo Libbey
2007 – Jon Diebler, Upper Sandusky
2006 – O.J. Mayo, North College Hill
2005 – O.J. Mayo, 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 – Emmanuel Smith, Euclid
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
Bruskotter is one of eight finalists who will be voted on by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. The only other player from the Northwest District on the Mr. Basketball ballot is Ohio State signee Collin White, a 6-5 senior from Ottawa-Glandorf.
Bruskotter averages 23.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game going into Thursday night’s regional semifinal game against Lima Shawnee at 8 p.m. at Bowling Green State University.
Bruskotter was chosen the Northwest District Co-Player of the Year was also the Player of the Year by the District 6 coaches association and the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.
The Whippets’ standout was also invited to represent Ohio in Italy in March. He is a three-time All-Ohioan.
Bruskotter scored 53 points in a single game and hit 12 3s in a game this season. He is Shelby’s second all-time leading scorer behind only the legendary Larry Siegfried.
Siegfried graduated from Shelby in 1958, went on to become an All-American at Ohio State and was part of the 1960 NCAA championship team, and the 1961 NCAA runners-up. Siegfried then won five NBA championships with the Boston Celtics.
Other candidates for Mr. Basketball include:
J’Allen Barrino, Malvern, 6-2, sr.
Division III East District and Inter-Valley Conference North Division Player of the Year after leading the Hornets to a 22-0 regular season. He has played 59 career games at Malvern and the team has gone 56-3. His senior year, J’Allen was 174-of-242 from the field, averaging 18.6 ppg while only taking 11 shots per game. He shot 74% from the foul line and also averaged 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 5.2 steals. Barrino surpassed 1,000 career points and owns school records for steals in a season and a career. He also currently ranks third in career assists in school history.
Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights, 6-1, soph.
NE Lakes District POY coming off an All-Ohio first team season as a freshman and ranked 12th nationally in the Class of 2026. Johnson led the Bulldogs (21-1) to a 19-0 start that included wins against Huntington Prep, Western Reserve Academy, defending Texas state champion Faith Family Christian and OHSAA champion Richmond Heights. Johnson has offers from Ohio State to Alabama, Cincinnati, LSU and Villanova. Averaged 23.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 steals.
Kruz McClure, Westerville South, 6-4, sr.
The Central District, District 10 Coaches Association (co-) and OCC Capital player of the year, McClure averaged 23.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals for a 16-8 district semifinalist. The guard shot 45 percent from the field (30 percent from three-point range) and 88 percent at the free throw line despite suffering from Crohn’s Disease, which flared up several times during the season and hospitalized him the night before a district tournament game. McClure, who owns 14 Division I offers (Ohio State, Dayton are very interested), has scored 1,098 points in his career.
Jesse McCulloch, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East, 6-10, sr.
NE Lakes District POY. Michigan State recruit led Falcons (16-5) to the No. 1 ranking in Division III as defending state champions, despite losing high profile forward T.J. Crumble to rival Richmond Heights. McCulloch averaged 22.4 points, 14.1 rebounds, 4.3 blocked shots and 2.7 assists. Also had a signature moment in mid-December, outplaying Cincinnati Winton Woods’ Tyler McKinley in a 71-45 win. McCulloch had 27 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks against him. Other signature performances include 21 points, 12 rebounds and eight blocks to beat Richmond Heights. Had a game-high 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks while playing sick in a loss at Cleveland St. Ignatius. Had in a 55-36 win vs. Isidore Newman (La.) at Flyin’ to the Hoop. Also had 40, 15 and five in a win vs. Mentor. Completely transformed his body since his freshman season, when he was out of shape at 6-6 and 245 pounds.
Tyler McKinley, Cincinnati Winton Woods, 6-9, sr.
19.4 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.6 apg. Shot 61.7 percent from the field and led his team to the Eastern Cincinnati Conference title for the first time. A UC signee, he is rated the No. 1 player in the state in all publications. Was ECC player of the year. Also played at Walnut Hills and Link Year Prep Academy in Missouri where he won a national title.
Hayden Nigro, Louisville, 6-5, sr
Northeast Inland District Player of the Year. 6-4 wing averaged 20.9 points on 51.3 percent shooting from the field. Averaged 4.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists. … Huge games against some of Louisville’s best competition, including 31 points against Akron Hoban and 31 against Lutheran East. … Four-year varsity player, three-year starter. Louisville’s all-time leading scorer with 1,434 points, which rank 14th in Stark County history. … Receiving D2 and D3 college interest. … District 4 Coaches Association D1 Player of the Year. … Louisville finished 23-3, with only losses to St. Ignatius, St. Edward and Canton GlenOak in district final.
Mason Shrout, Camden Preble Shawnee, 6-5, sr.
24.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.6 spg, 57.2% FG, 42.0 3 PT% 1st Team Western Ohio Athletic Conference, WOAC Player of the Year; District 15 Player of the Year. Led the Arrows to a second straight Division III district title and regional semifinal berth. An unselfish player, had five assists in district title game. The first player from Preble County to surpass 2,000 career points. Signed with Purdue Fort Wayne.
Colin White, Ottawa-Glandorf, 6-6 sr.
Ohio State University commit averaged 24.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game this season for the Associated Press poll champion Titans, who are 20-3 as of March 4. White is already a two-time All-Ohio first team selection and has been O-G’s top player on three straight state semifinal teams (runners-up in 2022, 2023). White has also helped the Titans to 28 consecutive Western Buckeye League wins, three straight league titles, and has been the WBL and District 8 Player of the Year three times. A four-year starter, White has played in 105 varsity basketball games, with O-G going 90-15 in those games. He is the all-time career leading scorer in the hot-bed basketball history of Putnam County. White enters the district semifinal round with 1,876 career points.
The OPSWA All-Ohio teams will begin being released on Monday, March 25.
Information about the OPSWA is available at: https://www.ohsaa.org/news/OPSWA.