Returning to Ohio after winning a GEICO national championship with Link Academy, McKinley has had a strong senior season at Winton Woods. Another strong effort led them to a conference win over Lebanon on Friday night. McKinley had a quick sweep dribble move into a two hand slam dunk that was more explosive than I’ve seen him usually make. Always been a skilled forward even since his freshman year, when you double McKinley he is going to find the open shooter or cutter. The seal for the victory was an off the glass alley-oop that Sean Harmon Jr Sean Harmon Jr 5'10" | PG Winton Woods | 2024 State OH threw. Harmon Jr led Winton Woods with 20 points with four 3-pointers. I love the smile Harmon Jr plays with as it seems to rub off on his teammates when he’s on the floor.

McKinley was a prospect who debuted at first in our Ohio 2024 rankings and kept that spot until he transferred to Link Year Prep and won a GEICO National Championship as a key bench piece. McKinley returns to Ohio third in our rankings, only behind out of state transfers into Western Reserve Academy. A unique big, McKinley has done major work on his body to allow him to defend on the perimeter at the next level. Watching him with Mokan next to John Bol helped show his potential to defend next to another big. The swing skill for McKinley will be the perimeter shot, if McKinley can consistently make 18-foot jumpers and even stretch out with the occasional corner 3-pointer, it will open up the floor offensively for the Bearcats. McKinley is a very high IQ player who can make passes on the short roll or from the high post. Another top 100 national prospect, McKinley finds himself in the top 100 of every national recruiting website, peaking at 59th on ON3.

After moving on to Link Academy from Walnut Hills, McKinley has had an impressive 17 U season with Mokan Elite, one of just five teams that sit at 3-0 in 17 U peach jam pool play. Looking slimmer than he was in the spring, McKinley continues to work on his foot speed and ability to defend on the perimeter. That’s been where he’s made the biggest impact this weekend as a defender who has been able to switch onto guards and communicate in pick and roll coverages. Offensively, McKinley makes smart decisions as a mover and is still developing his perimeter shot. Shooting 47% from the field, McKinley has been able to score around the rim when asked. I also saw McKinley move faster that I’ve ever seen him before on a transition opportunity where he was fed a bounce pass that got him a slam dunk. McKinley is a starter for a Mokan squad that has expectations of winning at the Peach Jam once again.

McKinley transferred to Link Academy in Missouri, he was ranked first by Prep Hoops Ohio for the entire time 2024 rankings were posted.

247: 42nd nationally, would be first in Ohio

Rivals: 70th nationally, would be second in Ohio

ESPN: Not ranked

ON3: 27th nationally, would be first in Ohio

The Circuit: Not ranked

McKinley is easily a top 50 prospect in my eyes and with some body development, could make a push at five star status. He was ranked first in our rankings for the entire time he was in Ohio and is one of the best prospects regardless of class to come through Ohio since I began in 2020.