An incoming Ohio State freshman earned a prestigious honor in the Indianapolis area Wednesday.
Four-star defensive end Joshua Mickens, the No. 119 overall prospect in the 2023 class, was named 2022-23 Marion County Male Athlete of the Year after his senior season both on the football field and basketball court at Lawrence Central High School.
Congratulations to senior Joshua Mickens. He is the 2023 Marion County Athlete of the Year.
— LCHSAthletics (@LCHSAthletics) May 31, 2023
All-MIC
Academic All-State
All-State
All-American
Marion County Athlete of the Year
Congratulations Josh! pic.twitter.com/PuhCd3f7oy
The award, which dates back to 1950, per the Indianapolis Star, was voted on by athletic directors around the county. Mickens finished his senior season with 74 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks on the gridiron, and averaged 8.9 points and 6.3 rebounds for his school's basketball program. Mickens was also a regional qualifier in shot put for Lawrence Central's track and field team.
Mickens had previously been named the Mr. Football position award winner for defensive line in Indiana.
Originally committed to LSU, Mickens decommitted from the Tiger program this past November and committed to Ohio State on Dec. 21, 2022. Mickens is the fourth-rated defensive prospect in the Buckeyes' 2023 class behind only cornerbacks Jermaine Mathews (No. 51 overall) and Calvin Simpson-Hunt (No. 62) and fellow defensive lineman Jason Moore (No. 67). Mickens is set to begin his Buckeye football career this summer.
"I just wanted to go somewhere where I knew I could be close to home and just developed to be the best player that I could be. And I knew that once they gave me the chance, I knew that place would be Ohio State,” Mickens told Eleven Warriors this spring.
