OVC Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

23. Denzel Mahoney

Mahoney is certainly better known for two stellar seasons at Creighton, but this 6’5 wing from Oviedo, Florida got his start in the OVC. He joined Southeast Missouri State back in 2016, standing out as Rick Ray’s best recruit during his time with the Redhawks. Though Mahoney would spend just two seasons in the OVC, he certainly made an impression in that time.

As a freshman, Mahoney was already taking on a starring role with the Redhawks, averaging 14.9 points per game in a season where they’d finish 2nd in the OVC West standings. He even had a 34-point outburst in the OVC Tournament against Tennessee State. During his sophomore year, he was the leading scorer and rebounder for Southeast Missouri State, averaging 19.3 points and 5.1 rebounds, including a career-high 36 points in a win over SIU Edwardsville.

Mahoney was OVC Rookie of the Year as a freshman and earned First Team All-OVC in his second season. He developed into an impactful player as an underclassman, becoming one of the leading scorers in the conference in that sophomore season. Mahoney was a great free throw shooter and all-around contributor, and would have success after transferring into the Big East with Creighton. Still, he did more than enough in those initial seasons to stand out in the OVC.