‘We know each other’s game’: Reynoldsburg boys basketball’s McKinney, Bowens are perfect mix
Thursday, February 26, 2026
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Reynoldsburg senior Jordie Bowens with the slam at Pickerington Central on Feb. 20 in a key OCC-Buckeye battle. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Whether its peas and carrots or milk and cookies or even peanut butter and jelly, some things just go well together. Jordie Bowens and Xavier McKinney have always gone well together.
A year after helping the Reynoldsburg boys basketball team to its first appearance in the state tournament, Bowens and McKinney may be playing the best ball of their respective careers.
The Raiders are taking a seven-game winning streak into the Division I district tournament. They finished the regular season 16-6 overall and were co-champions of the OCC-Buckeye Division with Newark at 13-1.
Bowens is a four-year varsity player for Reynoldsburg, joined by McKinney as a sophomore. McKinney started his career at Pickerington Central. They’re both signed to play at Ohio University next season, where 2025 graduate Jordan Fisher is a freshman.
“We’ve been playing consistently with each other since the eighth grade,” McKinney said. “We know each other’s game. I know his strengths. I know what he (can) do. When I’m in the game and I see Jordie dunking (and playing with) a lot of energy – that brings my game up another notch and vice versa.”
Seeded fourth in the district tournament, Reynoldsburg hosts 2oth-seeded Thomas Worthington in a semifinal March 3. The winner plays 15th-seeded Pickerington North or 17th-seeded Dublin Jerome in a final March 7 at Taft Coliseum.
“(McKinney) can score at all three levels –mid-range, 3-point and getting into the paint,” Bowens said. “He’s a great defender and he’s smart. That’s the main thing – he’s a very smart basketball player. He knows the game well. He’s an on-court coach.”
Reynoldsburg senior Xavier McKinney looks for the pass during the Raiders’ win at Pickerington Central Feb. 20. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Reynoldsburg was state runner-up last year, falling to Olentangy Orange 56-41 in the final to finish 26-2.
“I’ve never been big on that, but we named those two captains this year,” said sixth-year coach Andy Moore, who also serves as athletics director. “First time since we’ve been here (and it’s) because they’ve been here, they’ve been committed, they’ve sacrificed and been a part of the success (we’ve had). I felt like they earned that.”
McKinney grew up in the gym with his father, Will McKinney, who led the Africentric girls program to seven state championships over 18 seasons. His mother, Anissa, played at Ohio Wesleyan from 1998 to 2001. Aunts Jamila (Hofstra) and Lorenda (Michigan State) also played collegiately.
“I just fell in love working out from a young age,” McKinney said. “I was in the fifth or sixth grade getting up in the morning every day getting shots up on a gun and I just really fell in love with the sport. My dad was always there to help me and guide me in the right way.”
Bowens was also guided by a family member, his uncle Andree Mock. Bowens was still finding his footing after a growth spurt.
“I remember COVID year, we were quarantined,” he said. “My uncle would pick me and my best friend up and we would work out all the time doing biometrics and body work. I feel like that really helped me a lot. So, in the seventh grade, I was dunking and was really able to move with my body – just more coordinated.”
McKinney, a guard, leads the Raiders with 18.4 points, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He’s also averaging 5.0 rebounds and is shooting 45% from the floor and 82% at the free throw line.
Bowens is averaging 16.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game and is shooting 51% from the floor as a forward.
Sophomore guard Mekhi Roddy is averaging 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds while shooting 43% from the floor and 83% at the line.
Reynoldsburg sophomore Mekhi Roddy takes the contested jumper in front of the Pickerington Central student section on Feb. 20. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Five players graduated off last year’s team, making this year’s version much younger.
Sophomore guards Rashad Perry and Chavis Wilson are also in the starting lineup with classmate Peyton Hooper, a forward, playing a key role off the bench.
Juniors Javonn Taliaferro (knee) and Braylon McKinney (shoulder) were also key role players before suffering season-ending injuries.
“We knew we were going to face some challenges offensively in being able to score the ball like we did last year,” Moore said. “People think we lost Toby (Nwokolo), we lost Jordan, we lost Damon (Griffin) … it’s going to be a down year for Reynoldsburg. So, that was a motivating point towards everything. We still have good players. We say it all the time that the standard doesn’t change. We got to the top of the mountain (last year). We just lost the fight when we got up there.”
The Raiders have shown their youth at times. But a difficult schedule may have prepared Reynoldsburg for what’s to come in the postseason.
The Raiders six losses have all come against teams that are ranked in the top ten of their respective divisions. West Chester Lakota West, which beat Reynoldsburg 57-55 on Dec. 21, is the top-ranked team in Division I.
Newark, which won a league matchup against the Raiders 66-49 on Jan. 13, is fourth. Reynoldsburg is 15th. The Raiders, who defeated the Wildcats 63-50 in the return matchup on Feb. 13, could see the Wildcats a third time if both make the regional semifinal round.
The win over Newark was the Raiders third during the seven-game winning streak. McKinney feels like it’s all coming together at the right time.
“We always got each other’s back,” he said. “I feel like if all else fails – we’re always going to play hard for the man next to us. We got the pieces to do it. We got every piece we need. We’re just going to play hard and (have the) attitude to refuse to lose.”
Reynoldsburg sophomore Chavis Wilson with the layup in the Raiders’ OCC-Buckeye win at Pickerington Central on Feb. 20. Photo: Kevin Rouch