Xavier signee Jonathan Powell helps lead Centerville to Division I state runner-up finish
Centerville senior Jonathan Powell, who is Xavier's only member of the 2024 recruiting class, ended his prep basketball career Sunday night when the Elks lost to Cleveland St. Ignatius, 66-56, in the Division I state championship game at University of Dayton Arena.
Powell was the second-leading scorer in the Greater Western Ohio Conference this season (19.1 points per game). In his final game with Centerville Sunday, Powell turned in a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double. Powell was a first-team all-district selection this season for the Elks.
Powell, a three-star shooting guard, had 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in Centerville's 58-39 win over Toledo Whitmer in the Division I state semifinals on Saturday night, lifting the Elks to the state final for the second year in a row.
Powell, who committed to Xavier last May and signed in November of 2023, spent the last two seasons at Centerville after starting his career at Chaminade Julienne. In four seasons, Powell scored over 1,700 points and grabbed nearly 400 rebounds. He was the leading scorer each year of high school, leading his teams to a combined 78-28 record.
This is the second-straight year a Xavier signee has enjoyed a deep run in the Ohio High School Association boys basketball playoffs before heading to Cintas Center. In 2023, Columbus Africentric, led by Dailyn Swain, lost in the Division III state semifinals to Ottawa-Glandorf in double overtime, 49-47. Swain, a Mr. Ohio Basketball finalist, led the Nubians that night with 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and three steals.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier signee Jonathan Powell leads Centerville to DI state runner-up
