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Ohio State basketball's John Mobley Jr. improves at the Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp
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- Ohio State basketball's John Mobley Jr. improves at the Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp
It was game point, and John Mobley Jr. was on familiar ground.
The Ohio State sophomore guard was back in Las Vegas, the city he called home for the first three years of high school, and even playing in front of a former coach. Paul Patterson, who coached Mobley during his senior year at Mount Pleasant (Utah) Wasatch Academy, was sitting near the baseline when his former player told him what was about to happen.
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"Game," he told Patterson, just before play resumed at the Chris Paul Elite Guard Camp.
Then, Mobley said, he took the inbounds pass, crossed over his defender got just enough separation and launched his shot. Again, he called game, this time just after it left his fingers, and seconds later it went through the net for the game-winning shot.
"I told you so," Mobley said he called out after hitting the shot.
For the Ohio State sophomore, one of 12 college players selected for the camp held July 29-Aug. 1 , it was a highlight moment from a camp focused on helping point guards develop through hands-on instruction and film sessions with Paul, an 11-time all-NBA pick. The experience gave Mobley tips for his sophomore season, one he'll enter as a starter for the Buckeyes, and a chance to learn from and alongside some of the nation's top guards.
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It also provided some validation for a few things he's focused on this summer like being better on the ball, getting other people involved and "showing I can defend and lock down against the best guards out there.
"It also validated the work I've been putting in in the weight room, too," he said. "Being able to not get pushed around, (but) do the pushing. That's really big, too."
Moved into the starting lineup after Meechie Johnson Jr. left the team 10 games into the season, Mobley solidified himself as a primary scorer and go-to player for the Buckeyes. He averaged 13.0 points and 2.2 assists while shooting 38.5% from 3-point range. This year, he's expected to pair with senior Bruce Thornton to give Ohio State a formidable one-two punch in the backcourt.
Those projections, coupled with his production as a freshman, helped him earn an invite to the camp. Mobley said he was "a little bit in shock but not too surprised" to get the news from Ohio State coach Jake Diebler because in high school he didn't get invited to similar camps.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (0) dribbles the ball against the Oregon Ducks in the second half at Value City Arena on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
He credited his expanded role as last season progressed for his inclusion.
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"Beginning of last season, I showed a lot of scoring in catching and shoot and just being off the ball a lot," he said. "Once that role changed, being on the ball and showing everybody that I could be a point guard really gave me a big shot of getting invited to the point guard camp."
A normal day at camp began with breakfast and roll call before a morning workout that would cover topics like how to cut and how to move without the ball. There would be a break in the middle of the day for film work and a chance to check out some new shoes before playing five-on-five open gym sessions later in the day. It was there that Mobley said he "got really hot" especially on the first day.
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"I was really hot both days, but we had a good team (the first day)," he said. "I got to play with a couple guys from different conferences, but overall the first day was good. Everybody competed and I definitely got hot."
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Four other Big Ten guards were part of the camp: Michigan's Elliott Cadeau, Purdue's Braden Smith, UCLA's Donovan Dent and Iowa's Bennett Stirtz.
"Off the court, we're all good," Mobley said. "It's all love. We've all got the same goal, and on the court we just straight compete and talk."
Mobley said watching Paul break down film clips was especially impactful. The NBA veteran would pause a clip, tell the guards what he would see on the court at that moment and then resume the video and show that he did exactly what he'd just talked about. The lessons learned from those sessions are something Mobley said he'll bring with him back to the Buckeyes.
"He knew the game and knew everything before it happened," Mobley said. "I can see how I can get guys involved differently and also be able to get mine as well."
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That vision could go a long way toward affecting what type of season the Buckeyes have. Throughout the summer, Diebler and his players have spoken of improving their offensive flow with better ball movement, quicker cutting away from the ball and a better collective basketball IQ.
Mobley said he's made progress in those areas as well.
"That's one thing I really took away from that camp, really being able to know when to cut," Mobley said. "I know how to move without the ball on the perimeter, but being able to know when to cut, I feel like that was big."
Ohio State men's basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @ cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @ AdamJardy .
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Chris Paul camp helps Ohio State's John Mobley Jr. with summer growth
