Returning to his hometown high school, Lakota West, four-star point guard Josh Tyson packed the Firebirds' auditorium Friday, Sept. 25, to announce he would play college basketball locally.
Down to the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier, he quickly ran through thanking everyone and avoided the traditional "hat dance" by quickly revealing a black shirt with a C-Paw.
Tyson will play for Jerrod Calhoun and the Bearcats in the 2027-28 campaign.
"Being from Cincinnati, it was an easy choice," Tyson said. "It (Calhoun's system) is positionless, and it's flow. It's very similar to (Lakota West) and La Lumiere's (current school) offense. I thrive in the split-action, and it's super easy."
Tyson, who visited UC the previous weekend and also in May, is now part of new coach Jerrod Calhoun's local attack. Calhoun also secured Princeton High five-star Kameron Mercer in May. Mercer has played on teams with Tyson, as well as against him in the Greater Miami Conference.
"Most people don't know that me and him grew up together and played on the same AAU team in the seventh grade," Mercer said. "He went his separate way; I went my separate way with Nike and Adidas. We talk once a week, sometimes twice a week. I just wanted to play with him. Most people don't get the opportunity, but it's two of us at one school, and it's in our backyard. We're looking forward to turning Bearcat Nation up!"
Now at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Tyson was the Greater Miami Conference Athlete of the Year for Coach of the Year Kelven Moss at Lakota West. He says his wingspan is measured at 6-foot-10. He averaged 16.3 points per game, 3.8 assists per game and two steals while shooting 62.9% from the floor. His 3-point percentage was 34.4%. The Firebirds went 24-2.
His top game of 28 points came in a loss to his current school, La Lumiere (northwest Indiana), last season when he had 28 points in a 72-71 defeat. In the only other loss for the Firebirds, he had 20 points and 12 rebounds with six assists in his final game vs. Pickerington Central.
"They're getting somebody with great character, a huge personality, and amazing work ethic," Tyson's former coach Kelven Moss said. "He's ready to grind because he has bigger goals outside of being a Bearcat. I think he can be a future pro."
Past history of local recruits with UC Bearcats, Xavier Musketeers
Both the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Xavier Musketeers have pursued Greater Cincinnati players in the past. Most recently, in 2023, UC got 6-foot-9 Tyler McKinley from Winton Woods, who held offers from both schools. McKinley is now with former UC coach Wes Miller, but in Charlotte.
Taft High's Rayvon Griffith had both offers, but chose the Bearcats in March 2022. Griffith spent two seasons with Wes Miller at UC and has since been at Kent State and Cleveland State.
Before that, Mick Cronin made a splash by getting 6-foot-9 Yancy Gates from Withrow to UC, when he was offered by both schools.
A recruiting battle some may remember was when Roger Bacon's Eugene Land chose UC over Xavier. The 6-foot-7 forward played in 46 games for Bob Huggins between 1998 and 2003.
Xavier successfully recruited Josh Duncan from Moeller and Justin Doellman from Ryle, in addition to Semaj Christon from Winton Woods and, way back when, Brian Grant from Georgetown.
Both schools have missed on top prospects as well, with Miles "Deuce" McBride leaving Moeller for West Virginia, ironically to play for Huggins. MaCio Teague also left Walnut Hills without local looks and won an NCAA title with Baylor.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 4-star guard Josh Tyson makes his pick, committing to UC Bearcats
