Newport rising junior Griffin Starks’ basketball recruitment continues to heat up.
He recently added a scholarship offer from the University of Cincinnati, bringing his total up to six Division I offers now. He also holds offers from Ohio State, West Virginia, Penn State, Florida State and Ohio.
The name of Starks’ game is versatility. Listed as a power forward, he can bring the ball up and guard all five positions if need be. His perimeter shot is improving with a knack for the ball around the rim, evidenced by his team-high 7.3 rebounds per game last season.
Another attribute that makes him stick out is that he’s a lefty with still some more room to grow in height. He entered his sophomore season listed at 6-foot-7, with recruiting sites listing him at 6-foot-8 now.
His 2027 national ranking is a four-star at No. 52 by 247 Sports, the highest rated junior in the state of Kentucky. His initial ranking at Rivals was even higher, at No. 46.
He recently helped Newport to a Summer Classic Tournament championship at Walton-Verona and will continue summer action with the Wildcats over the next week before AAU heats back up in July.
Starks first offer came from Ohio, with Penn State following. The other four offers have come over the past couple of months.
In his sophomore year, Starks averaged 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds for the 19-11 Wildcats, a 36th District champ and Ninth Region semifinalist. He shot 48% from the field, knocked down 22 three-pointers and hit 51/86 from the free throw line. He’s expected to take on a bigger role for the upcoming season with the departures of Yamil Rondon, DaShawn Anderson and Adonaje Lowe to graduation.
During his freshman season, Starks was inserted into the starting lineup a handful of games into the season and helped spark a 24-game winning streak that included an All “A” state title and a Ninth Region championship before losing to Campbell County in the first round of the KHSAA Sweet 16 state tournament.
Starks’ has family ties to the UC program, his father Keith played there from 1987-91.