By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Quentin Mosby, a sophomore at Lakeside High School, has quickly established himself as one of the top young talents in Washington state. Though it is still early in his high school career, Mosby has already demonstrated impressive potential and a strong foundation for continued success.
“Quentin is a tremendous talent,” said Lakeside head basketball coach AJ Turner. “He can score on all three levels. He is a great shooter, can finish with both hands, and I mean, his game is just really polished.”
“You can tell that he works out a lot and has a lot of great skills,” continued Turner. “He is really talented, and all of the production that he puts out is really a direct result of the work that he puts in on a daily.”
Last year, Mosby was recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the top four ninth-grade boys basketball prospects in Washington for the 2024–2025 season. Following a standout freshman season, Mosby has continued to build an impressive resume. He was named All-Metro Boys Sound Division MVP, and surpassed the 1,000-point milestone halfway through his high school career.
Currently ranked as Washington’s No. 1 sophomore, Mosby opened the season in dominant fashion, averaging 32.7 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists in his first three games.
“Staying level-headed has been the key to my success this season,” said Mosby. “During big games or moments, I try to just focus on those moments and get the best outcome possible. Compared to last year, I would say that my ability to stay in the moment and remain focused on the game has improved a lot.”
Although he competes in the lower division of the Metro League, Mosby’s natural scoring ability translates at any level of competition. His skill set and offensive instincts consistently make him a major threat on the court.
In his first year as a varsity head coach, Turner said that what stands out most about Quentin is his composure. Even as the primary focus of opposing defenses, Mosby remains calm and never allows pressure to disrupt his game.
“I think teams really kind of game plan around him, and he is able to maintain his composure and still produce at a really high level,” says Turner. “Aside from his very good shooting ability and having really deep range, his composure and his mindset set him apart from others. He is very aggressive, and he is also really confident, and that is a huge part of his game.”
Mosby’s growth has been fueled by years of preparation long before he reached high school.
“Many people might not know that I have been playing basketball for a long time,” said Mosby. “I have been playing since I was little, and people think that I have just now gotten into it.”
That foundation has shown during high-intensity matchups. In a recent loser-out game against Seattle Academy, Mosby scored 37 of Lakeside’s 43 points, including 10 three-pointers, in a narrow one-point loss. Rather than dwelling on the defeat, he viewed it as an opportunity to improve.
“I think and look for things that I can improve on, so that next time there will be a different outcome,” said Mosby.
Turner said that mindset separates Mosby from many players his age and is a direct reflection of his preparation.
“The amount of work that he puts in is incredible. He doesn’t just show up expecting things to happen blindly, and I know that firsthand,” added Turner. “But you can tell even being an observer that he spends a lot of time in the gym perfecting his craft, and he is definitely reaping the rewards right now.”
That work ethic helped Lakeside navigate a season with a young roster. With only one senior during the 2025–2026 campaign, the team finished 11–8 overall — an accomplishment Mosby said meant more given the group’s inexperience.
“Our team is pretty young, but we still had an overall good season,” Mosby said. “For my personal accomplishments, I am proud of being able to reach 1,000 career points halfway through my high school career.”
Even while serving as the team’s primary scoring option, Mosby says that basketball is a team sport and sharing success with teammates is something that is very natural.
“I wouldn’t say that being a great player and sharing that with my teammates, so they are succeeding as well, is much of a balance for me,” Mosby said. “It is just how I have always been, so it is something that I have always done and balanced well.”
As Mosby and Lakeside’s season concluded with a 75–60 loss in a loser-out game against Franklin High School, he is already setting his sights on the upcoming season and the opportunities ahead.
“I would like to make it farther into the tournament next year,” said Mosby. “State. State is the end goal.”
From a coaching perspective, Turner hopes Mosby continues on his current trajectory, as he strongly believes in his potential to become an exceptional player.
“Obviously, he just won MVP for the sound division and averaged about 30 points this year, so he is on track,” said Turner. “I think a part of his game, you know, with him scoring so much, that can get lost is how good a passer he is. I think that he has a really good feel for the game, and he is someone who just loves basketball and watches a lot of film.”
“I hope he continues on this path, works hard, continues to ask questions, and shoots for the stars. He has that chance to be a really great player now and in the future,” Turner added.
