Ohio's No. 1 2024 prospect Tyler McKinley is a hot commodity
Ohio has had plenty of talented prospects to come out of the state over the last few years.
Add Tyler McKinley to the pipeline. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward out of Walnut Hills High School in Ohio, is a dazzling prospect, seen anywhere among the Top-60/70 prospects in the 2024 class. That will change. You talk about grit and grind, McKinley has impressed coaches through not only his skill set but, his elite motor and just playing hard on both ends.
Not many can navigate the floor at that size as McKinley does. Plays well through traffic, can score from multiple spots, and doesn’t shy away from involving his teammates and also making the extra pass.
As far as the 2024 class goes, I’ve witnessed McKinley’s development over the last 15 months and his progress has been impressive to watch.
Let’s look at his early progression:
In his freshman campaign, he averaged 10.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game.
As a sophomore this year, 17.2 points, 7.4 boards, and shot nearly 70% from the field.
Now, on the EYBL circuit? He continues to do what Tyler McKinley does. His totals on the circuit are 17.3 points, 8.6 boards, and 3.1 assists per game. The Cincinnati native has also asserted himself as one of the most dominant defensive prospects on the EYBL circuit, as he’s Top-10 in blocks this year for NIKE EYBL.
His progress, development, and results led him to an invite to Colorado Springs where he participated in USA Basketball. Outside of that, he had a busy contact period, hearing from nearly 15+ programs across the country.
We discussed all of that as McKinley sat down with Stockrisers.com.
So, which schools are heavily involved in your recruitment early?
“Ohio State, Cincinnati, Xavier, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Penn State.”
Have any new schools entered your recruitment recently?
“Missouri, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Longwood, Air Force, BYU, Georgetown, Butler, UCLA.”
Ohio State, what is their pitch and your overall thoughts on them?
“So for Ohio State. What we talked about was their development, versatile forwards, like what I am. They say I’m more versatile and they want to expand on that and get me ready for the next level, and then go pro.”
How about your local program, the Cincinnati Bearcats?
“Same as Ohio State. Cincinnati is more different. Just cause they don’t really have anybody just yet, but I just feel like it’s the hometown, I would do it for the city. Both programs [Ohio State], have good feelings, good people around them, and good alumni, but yeah it’s crazy.”
How about West Virginia, what are they pitching to you?
“West Virginia was one of the first schools to contact me. One of my peoples go to West Virginia, JoJo Harris and he keeps telling me how good the staff they got is and how they operate on and off the floor. Coach Huggins has been doing this college basketball stuff for years and years, and you know he’s just an all-time great. It’s always an honor to be invited, or offered by West Virginia and Coach Huggins. He’s just a great coach and he develops a lot of players, and the history of WVU in general.”
Pittsburgh?
“They really just started reaching out. I’ve really been staying in touch with Head Coach Jeff Capel, he seems like a really good guy and I can’t wait to meet him in person.”
Have any of the professional routes reached out yet?
“No.”
How would you best describe your game?
“The best way to describe my game is a versatile four. Versatile and positionless. I can do anything, I think I can do anything on the floor at a high level.”
Any guys that want to team up with you?
“Rayvon [Griffith] wants to team up at Cincinnati. Damone King and Ayden Evans from Louisville also want to team up somewhere in college. Time will tell, you will just have to see.”