While the boys high school basketball teams always produce great talent who go on to play for D-1 schools, the women have been paving the way lately on the highest level in Southwest Ohio in the college hoop game.
The local girls ballers from the Dayton area have been more prevalent in being key players, and are becoming stars in their own right, on their college teams as well.
A couple years ago there was a kid from Centerville, who was a "Can't Miss" prospect. Cotie McMahon, then only a HS junior, was going toe to toe with the likes of McDonalds All-American senior Bree Hall (Who is a key player for South Carolina) and other top players in the Dayton area.
McMahon and the Elks were very good, and with her coming back for her senior year it looked as if the Lady Elks would have their first McDonalds All-American and be reaching a State Semifinal.
Well, McMahon had other plans, and decided to graduate early, which would end her HS career.
While McMahon and her family talked about it, the Buckeyes were locked in on her after seeing her in her sophomore and junior campaign at Centerville.
She would decide to graduate early, and she would go to Ohio State to play with the Lady Buckeyes.
But before she would step one minute on the court with Ohio State, McMahon was selected to represent the USA Under-18 team at the World Championships.
And represent she did, leading the team in scoring en route to the gold medal, and showing that she could, in fact, possibly be one of the next wave of stars of womens' basketball.
Now fast forward to her first season at OSU.
McMahon has fit in flawlessly with a Lady Buckeyes team that has all the firepower to reach a Final Four. Adding McMahon, who is now averaging 11 ppg to go with her rebounding, playmaking, fiery mentality, and all around play, and you got a recipe for a NCAA Title contender.
But make no mistake: it is her intensity and physicality which seperate her from the rest.
McMahon plays with a spark, an grittiness, that is unmatched. Her ability to drive and create is one that feels like Lebron on a fast break.
Get in the way at your own risk.
And as far as her defense? It is elite already, but still needs polish, which she is doing every day.
McMahon was plugged as a starter from day one, and its easy to see after a big win over Michigan, which runs the #3 ranked Lady Buckeyes record to 15-0. She can defend guards and post players with ease. And when she gets going offensively? Watch out.
The next win will set the record for the most wins to start a season for the Lady Buckeyes.
While she had been on a offensive scoring tear, dropping 20+ points in 4 or her last 5 games, this game was about heart, and who had it the most.
Ohio State would pull away late, after Michigan had cut it to a 4-point game, after being down 15 early in the 3rd quarter.
Michigan, ranked #14 in the country, also has some local talent with Jordan Hobbs, a Springboro grad, and Laila Phelia, a 2-Time State Champion from Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati.
In trying to talk with McMahon after the game, you see the makings of a star: Kids and adults all over the place wanting autographs and pictures. Running from one autograph and picture to the next.
Even some former Buckeye legends having their kids pictures taken with her.
When around her, you feel a budding superstar vibe, but her humility, family core values and awesome smile and energy brings the vibe down to make you feel welcoming. You also feel it in her conversation.
In asking her about her game it was simple:
"Today I was needed to do a job defensively, and provide whatever my team needed me to do today. I was just worried about doing what is needed to get a win against a tough Michigan team. Today wasn't my day to score." McMahon said.
Congrats to a young girl who took the road lesser taken. Its very rare to see a successful African-American student-athlete graduate school early to play sports at the next level - and be really good at it at in the early stages, despite all the obstacles.
And another final point. This is becoming a special Ohio State team we are watching.
Congrats to McMahon for her early success for her and the Lady Buckeyes team.
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