The Cincinnati Bearcats make the news for the third time in recent weeks for recruiting local basketball talent, this time the Bearcats offered Winton Woods High School guard Isaiah Mack-Russell. Mack-Russell is a rising senior in the class of 2027, along with a recent local prospect Joshua Tyson, who the Bearcats also offered and hosted for a visit.
Mack-Russell is listed as 6-foot-4, 180 pounds and averaged 23.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.2 steals on 57% shooting from the field in 21 Eastern Cincinnati Conference games. Mack-Russell was named the Southwest District Play of the Year, bringing Winton Woods to a 22-3 record before losing in the Division II district final to Aiken High School in the 2026 OHSAA Basketball Tournament.
According to ESPN, Mack-Russell is the No.5 player in the state of Ohio for the class of 2027. According to 247 Sports, he is the No. 6 player in Ohio, No. 171 in the country, and the No. 29 shooting guard overall.
Next season, Winton Woods will be leaving the ECC and joining the Greater Miami Conference, which will be a tougher conference, with more Division 1 opponents on the schedule, and better basketball programs.
Mack Russell has interest from several Power 5 programs, including Ohio State, Virginia, Michigan, Michigan State, Xavier, Dayton, Creighton, Washington, Nebraska, and Arizona State. It's unknown when Russell will name his commitment, but he likely spends the summer going on visits to other programs until the next official signing day in November.
UC just offered a scholarship to Winton Woods 2027 junior guard Isaiah Mack-Russell, per Winton Woods boys basketball coach Mike Pilgrim. Mack-Russell visited UC today. @WCPO @GoBEARCATS
— Mike Dyer (@MikeDyer) May 19, 2026
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