Ohio State commit John Mobley flashes 'action-packed' game at Kingdom Summer league
Juni Mobley’s homecoming game came with a win and a new nickname.
Mobley’s full given name is John Paul Mobley Jr., but he’s often called “Juni” owing to the Spanish version of his name, Junito. On Sunday afternoon inside Ohio Dominican’s gym, though, the in-game announcer for Kingdom Summer League games gave him a new one.
Going forward, Mobley said he doesn’t mind being called “Action-Packed,” the moniker that was called out over the speakers every time he touched the ball.
“I mean, I think it’s funny,” he said with a laugh. “They do a good job with the names. I would’ve never thought about that, but that was actually smooth.”
Sunday was not Mobley’s first experience with the Kingdom Summer League, an annual tradition that stretches back to 2014 and features everyone from current college players to NBA players and other professionals all with ties to either the region or the state. Growing up in Reynoldsburg, Mobley said he would consistently attend games and think about one day being talented enough to participate.
That goal came true last summer, when Mobley made his Kingdom debut after having taken an unofficial visit to Ohio State. Next year, he’ll be a freshman with the Buckeyes. For a few weeks, though, Mobley is back in Central Ohio as he prepares for his senior season at Mount Pleasant (Utah) Wasatch Academy, allowing him to suit up for team 4DEEP with a berth in the championship game on the line.
Playing against a team primarily composed of non-Division I college basketball players, Mobley started and scored 17 points in an 85-78 win.
“I came every Sunday, dreaming I could play in this,” he said. “Now I can play in it and I try to do whatever I can do to make an impact and win. I could’ve played better, but the most important thing was getting the win so we could play next week. Maybe I could’ve hit some more shots, but I felt I contributed more by passing, getting my teammates involved and doing good on the defensive end.”
Mobley’s 17 points came on 17 shots, eight of which were 3-pointers. He opened the game by showing his speed, quickly driving past former Capital University guard Tyrel Jackson for a layup while being fouled. It was a quick three-point play, but things would get more challenging from there.
Playing against bigger athletes, Mobley’s ability to finish at the rim was challenged. Mobley frequently got past his defender and to the paint only to have his driving attempt rim out after being challenged by a bigger player. But with the scored tied at 64 after three quarters, Mobley scored nine points in the fourth to help 4DEEP pull away.
With his team clinging to a 72-68 lead, Mobley followed a bucket scored by a teammate by anticipating the inbounds pass, stealing it and deftly laying it in to help double his team’s lead to eight points in a matter of seconds. It got the 2024 prospect going a bit, and he quickly added a pull-up jumper from the foul line and a transition 3-pointer with 50.2 seconds left that made it 85-76 and sealed the victory.
Mobley went 7 for 17 from the floor and 2 for 8 from 3-point range while adding five rebounds, two steals and an assist.
That explosive scoring ability has helped Mobley climb to No. 39 in the 247Sports.com national recruiting rankings. He’s listed as the No. 6 combo guard in the nation and the top player in Utah, and he showed off that ability to score in bunches on one of the biggest stages this summer. Playing for team Vegas Elite in the Peach Jam championship, Mobley scored 18 points during the first quarter of what would become a 76-61 loss to Team Takeover.
“That was all me just trying to get us back in the game,” he said. “We ended up coming back, up by one at the half and then let it slip away at the end. I’ve been in the weight room a lot this summer. Me getting in the paint, I do gotta get better at finishing with contact.”
Mobley spent his previous three prep seasons at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman. He considered transferring back to Ohio for his senior season but instead will play at Wasatch, which is part of the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference. It’s also where Ohio State sophomore guard Roddy Gayle closed out his prep career.
“I feel like it was the best situation for me my senior year,” Mobley said. “At first, I wanted to come back home, but we had a long talk with my family. My goal is to be a McDonald’s All-American, so I feel like that will put me in the best situation to make that happen.”
Ohio State has not had a McDonald’s All-American since D’Angelo Russell in 2014. Mobley said he speaks frequently with associate head coach Jake Diebler, his primary recruiter, and coach Chris Holtmann. While back in the area, Mobley said he’s attended some of Ohio State’s summer workouts and participated in some open gym sessions that feature current and former Buckeyes.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Join the Ohio State Sports Insider text group with Bill Rabinowitz, Joey Kaufman Adam Jardy
“They’ve been showing me where I’ll be at when I get there, where I’ll be placed at,” he said. “Me guarding Bruce (Thornton), helping me come off screens, guard screens and learning from him. Stuff like that.”
Mobley is the lone member of an Ohio State class that’s likely to add no more than two more players. One potential candidate is Aiden Sherrell, a four-star center ranked No. 50 nationally by 247Sports who was Mobley’s teammate in AAU ball.
Sherrell will announce his college decision this Sunday, the same day that Mobley will play for the Kingdom Summer League championship.
“I’m trying to get Aiden Sherrell,” he said. “It’s going good. I mean, he likes Ohio State heavy.”
Get more Ohio State basketball news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Future Ohio State guard John Mobley enjoys homecoming game in Kingdom
