4-star guard Rayvon Griffith picks hometown program

CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 28: Mika Adams-Woods #3 of the Cincinnati Bearcats brings the ball up court during the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Fifth Third Arena on January 28, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - JANUARY 28: Mika Adams-Woods #3 of the Cincinnati Bearcats brings the ball up court during the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Fifth Third Arena on January 28, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

The Bearcats men’s basketball team got a major boost to the 2023 recruiting class as 4-star prospect Rayvon Griffith committed to Cincinnati on May 2. Griffith became the highest-rated junior recruit in Ohio and the nation’s 10th ranked shooting guard per 247 Sports after winning the 2022 Ohio Division III Southwest District Player of the Year.

With the addition of Griffith, Wes Miller can turn his attention to building out the rest of next year’s recruiting class. Miller is hoping to pick up several other 4-star prospects including point guard Aden Holloway, forward Dailyn Swain, and center Xavier Booker. Cincinnati has offered nine 2023 recruits that haven’t committed yet.

According to 247 Sports, Griffith is the 7th highest-ranked recruit in Bearcats history behind 5-stars Lance Stephenson and Jermaine Lawrence, and 4-stars Yancy Gates, Devan Downey, Roy Bright and Zach Harvey. He has impressive scoring ability and should develop into a dynamic scorer and playmaker in college.

The Cincinnati native averaged 19.6 points and 5.9 rebounds as a junior en route to a state championship last March. He was also named to the All-Ohio First Team for a second consecutive season. As a sophomore at Taft High School, Griffith scored 23.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.

He made a decision last week and committed to the Bearcats on Monday over four other finalists Alabama, Kansas, Ohio State and UCLA. Miller has to be excited about keeping such a talented prospect away from the aforementioned programs, most notably defending champions Kansas and Ohio State.

The 6’7 guard played alongside Bronny James in middle school with the North Coast Blue Chips and is used to playing on big stages. He will likely get a chance to play consistently as a freshman with David DeJulius and Rob Phinisee heading into their final season with the Bearcats in 2023.

Cincinnati originally offered Griffith on September 29, 2020.