5 questions for the 2016-17 season in NEO: Division II
Here’s a quick look at how Division II might shape up next season: Offseason overview 1) Who will be the best local team in Division II? It should come as no surprise that St. Vincent-St. Mary again looks like the…
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Continue ReadingHere’s a quick look at how Division II might shape up next season:
Offseason overview
1) Who will be the best local team in Division II?
It should come as no surprise that St. Vincent-St. Mary again looks like the cream of the crop for Division II. Jayvon Graves and John Williams give the Irish one of the state’s best backcourts, and a terrific group of rising sophomores should make their impact before the season over. The question will again be what will this team get inside, but at least a trip to the regional round is likely in the cards.
2) Who will be the best player in Division II?
Forget Division II, one of the best players in the state next year will be Holy Name rising junior Dwayne Cohill. After a breakout sophomore year in terms of scoring, Cohill is probably the most likely player in Northeast Ohio to crack the 30 ppg mark this season. Still, his success will be measured in wins, and after a rough 2015-16 for Holy Name, they will be under the microscope.
3) Who will be the sleeper team in Division II?
There doesn’t seem to be a Bay this year in Division II, so I’ll go an unconventional route. I thin the sleepers will be Benedictine, Cleveland Central Catholic, and East Tech. There will be expectations that each of these programs will fall off for a year after losing their stars (Justin Layne, Tervell Beck, and Markell Johnson). But these are strong programs with great coaches, and I think all three will be in the hunt for the Stow district title.
4) Who is the sleeper player in Division II?
Lots of good players to choose from, but I see a big year from East Tech rising junior Tyshaun Howard. They’ll need scoring with the departure of Johnson, and Howard seemed to get better and more confident as the season went on. Expect him to be closet 20 ppg as a junior.
5) So who wins the local Division II districts?
It’s very early, but St. Vincent-St. Mary seems like a lock in the Canton district and the area’s best Division II chance for state. I see Cleveland Central Catholic nudging past Benedictine in the Stow district. Bay edges Holy Name in the North Ridgeville district, and Lake Catholic bounces back by winning the Ashtabula district.