Written By: DJ Mr. King
“Pull Up Close and get Down With The King”.
That has been the mantra for DJ Mr. King since joining Radio One Columbus in 2014.
King, a father of three, describes himself as the ultimate hustler with multiple hats. Whether it's rocking the #7oClockSetOff or the #10Spot on Columbus' WCKX Power 107.5 every weeknight, coaching high school basketball or encouraging youth to stay the course throughout the community, DJ Mr. King is the definition of driven.
His creativity on the turntables and high energy on the mic separates him from the competition, while his desire to introduce listeners to new music and trends makes him a fan favorite among millennials and young adults in Central Ohio.
King, who began DJing at the age of 16, uses his understanding and connection of music and pop culture to relate to children on
an academic and personal level as well, serving as an Intervention Specialist and Algebra 2 teacher at Whitehall-Yearling High School. His youthful appearance is often mistaken of that of high school junior, but the respect granted from every student that crosses his path is genuinely breed, earned and reciprocated.
King also heads a non-profit organization in his hometown of Akron called the Young Black Professionals Coalition, which focuses on the personal, professional and social development of future leaders, including high school and college students through a variety of workshops, social activities and continuous education.
Ohio State freshman sensation Malaki Branham announced Wednesday that he will not be back for a sophomore season and will be leaving Columbus and the Ohio State Buckeyes to accomplish his NBA dreams
Branham, who many predict as a first-round selection, said feedback from many NBA scouts and insiders helped him make his decision in a confident, yet tough way.
“Being a first-round pick, that was the biggest feedback I needed,” said Branham, a third-team All-Big Ten selection this past season who averaged 3.7 points per game.
Branham, who earned Mr. Ohio Basketball honors in 2021, also put up 3.6 rebounds per game for the Buckeyes this season. In conference play, Branham averaged 16.3 points on 52.3 percent shooting, and in the final 10 games of the year, his scoring average ballooned to 20.2 points at a 56.6 percent clip from the field.
Branham, a Columbus native who played high school basketball at Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, had eight 20-point performances in 2021-22, including a 31-point night in a win over Illinois on Feb. 24 and a 23-point effort to lead the Buckeyes in their season-ending loss to Villanova in the NCAA Tournament.