Wilmington High School senior Jarron Cumberland earned Div. I first team All-Ohio honors Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.
“As his head coach, from here on out, I expect him to be the best offensive player, the best defensive player and the best player in every phase of the game … from here on out and I told him that,” WHS head coach Michael Noszka said. “He has earned that responsibility. It’s a lot of fun playing at Wilmington but there is responsibility that comes with that.”
In a vote of statewide media, Cumberland finished as one of the top six in the voting for Mr. Basketball. Lima Senior’s Xavier Simpson was selected as Mr. Basketball.
“Jarron would rather score 0 points the rest of the season and win the state championship than score 50 and lose the state championship,” Noszka said. “That’s the type of kid he is. He’s an unselfish kid. We wants desparately to win.”
Cumberland and Simpson, former AAU teammates, will square off 5:15 p.m. Friday at Value City Arena in one of the Div. I state semifinal games.
Garfield Heights will meet Westerville South at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the other semifinal game.
The two semifinal winners will square off 8:30 p.m. Saturday for the Div. I state championship.
Cumberland, a 6-5 shooting guard headed to the University of Cincinnati, is averaging 29.6 points in 28 games this season.
In addition, Cumberland is averaging 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.
He is shooting 58 percent from the field, which includes 41 percent beyond the three-point arc. Cumberland is 170 for 222 at the free throw line, 76.6 percent.
He had a single-game best of 52 points against Washington Senior in the home finale.
Cumberland has scored 2,383 career points, unofficially ranking him 16th on Ohio’s all-time scoring list.
Lima Senior head coach Quincy Simpson said Cumberland was the best scorer in the state.
