Kegley signs to continue basketball career at Rio Grande

From the moment one sees a player, there are moments where one absorbs a player’s abilities and knows that, from the get-go, that individual has what it takes to be a college athlete.

West senior guard Will Kegley is that type of athlete.

But Kegley was not only an obvious college-bound player, he worked hard to make the most of his final year at Portsmouth West High School.

And as a result, it was a memorable one that won’t soon be forgotten.

Putting the bow on top of a senior season, a final year that saw many firsts since or first times ever in terms of accomplishments, the 6-3 Kegley will take his 22.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 steals and 2.8 assists per game to Rio Grande, where Kegley will spend the next four seasons of his college career.

“It means a lot,” Kegley said when asked about officially putting his decision to bed. “The decision was hard, figuring out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. It feels a lot better, just knowing that I’m committed and am able to focus on the things that I need to do heading into college.”

Considering opportunities from NCAA Division III Waynesburg (Pa.) as well as NCAA Division II Findlay, Kegley ultimately chose the Red Storm due to its close proximity to Washington and Nile Townships and the opportunity to make an impact on the program in a similar manner to what he did at West.

At Rio Grande, Kegley will be playing for Ron Miller, who will be in his first season as the head coach of the RedStorm after previously serving as Ohio Christian’s head coach from the 2022-23 to 2025-26 seasons.

“I like (Ron Miller),” Kegley said. “I believe that he’s a good guy, and he knows a great deal about the game of basketball. That’s not to say that the other coaches that offered me didn’t, but he is a great leader for a program that’s also only an hour away. That’s a short drive where I can come home on the weekends if I want or need to.”

Miller is certainly getting a local gem.

Individually, Kegley became the fourth player in West boys basketball history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for his career, won the District 14 Coaches Association’s Division VI Player of the Year honor, was named as the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association’s (OPSMA) Division VI Player of the Year and was honored as a First-Team All-Ohio honoree in Division VI to cap off one of the best senior seasons any West player had ever enjoyed in any sport.

From a team perspective, Kegley led West to unprecedented heights, helping the Senators soar to a 19-win campaign, a three-way share of the SOC III Championship and a OHSAA Division VI District Championship — the first conference and district championship for the boys basketball program since 1985. Kegley then led the Senators’ boys basketball program to its first-ever regional final, helping West defeat Peebles by a 42-32 margin en route to doing so.

“I started playing when I was in kindergarten, but I didn’t know that I wanted to get serious with basketball until around fourth or fifth grade,” Kegley said. “Around that time, that’s when I knew I wanted to work for it.”

From Jan. 31 to March 12, West won 11 consecutive games en route to finishing the year 19-7 after starting it 8-6.

He credited the finish to the season to the close bonds that he shared with fellow seniors Cristian Quirasco and Logan McIntire as well as junior Corbin Miller, who graduated early to pursue a career in the armed forces.

Juniors Braden Adkins and fellow juniors and brothers Harrison and Owen Richards, along with sophomore Braxton Kammer, completed the main rotation of players in West’s run to the regional finals.

“It’s helped us out a lot these past few years, where we’ve played together for basically 10-12 years now,” Kegley said. “Our bond is so close. We’d do anything for each other and hang out together on weekends. It’s just a blast. We set a new standard, I believe, for the younger guys that are coming up. I look forward to seeing what they can do.”

Under Miller, Ohio Christian was highly proficient offensively throughout his time with the Trailblazers, which will be a major feather in the cap as Rio Grande begins its new era of men’s basketball.

Of the seven players who played in at least 80 percent of Ohio Christian’s games in 2025-26, five of them shot at least 50 percent or better from the field while four of the seven shot 36 percent or better from three-point range. Ohio Christian combined to go 54-10 over its final two seasons of competition under Miller’s direction, and finished 28-5 in 2025-26.

“Under (Miller), players have developed their jump shot and have become really efficient scorers,” Kegley said. “I believe that he’s really going to help me become a better scorer from mid-range and from beyond the arc.”

Kegley, who says that he’s “looking to be a one or a two” at the next level, hasn’t decided on a specific major yet, but said that he’ll likely pursue a career in business in some facet.

No matter what ends up happening, it is clear that Rio Grande will be getting a competitor.

“I just want to compete,” Kegley said, “and be a four-year player.”