Xenia forward named Ohio Mr. Basketball

XENIA » Ever since a tornado ripped through Xenia, residents often have uttered the saying “Xenia Lives,” in recognition of its ongoing progress since that dreadful day April 3, 1974.

Now nearly 45 years later, Xenia coach Kent Anderson has something he thinks the locals will enjoy saying even more: “Mr. Basketball lives in Xenia.”

Xenia senior Samari Curtis has been named Ohio’s Mr. Basketball for 2019, as determined by a distinguished panel of Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association and Associated Press media members.

Anderson told Curtis he would be doing a routine interview in recognition of his being selected for the Division I All-Ohio team as its Player of the Year. It wasn’t until he met with a local writer the wily coach dropped the news. Curtis was overcome with emotion.

“LeBron (James) is my most favorite player, ever. He’s the reason I started playing basketball. So to get an award that he got … it’s so humbling,” Curtis, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, said upon learning he would join his childhood idol as a recipient of the Mr. Basketball Award.

James was Mr. Basketball from 2001 through 2003 at Akron SVSM, during those years when Curtis was first learning the game from his older brothers Marcus and Aaron.

Curtis led the alwaystough Greater Western Ohio Conference in scoring three of his four years with the Buccaneers. During his senior season, Curtis finished with a 34.4 points per game average. He also had the second-most assists in the GWOC with 5.8 per contest. His 224 made free throws this season are unofficially the ninth most free throws made in OHSA A boys basketball history.

COURTESY XENIA DAILY GAZETTE Xenia’s Samari Curtis is the 2019 Ohio Mr. Basketball.