Preseason First Team All State: Division III
Division III has sneakily become much more talented this offseason because of Competitive Balance.
Based on the last couple seasons and how we see 2017-18 shaping up, here’s our ten players that we expect to comprise First Team All State in Division III this season. (Players are in alphabetical order.)
Justin Ahrens
Ahrens is a lock to make the team at this point. The Ohio State commit will average well over 20 points per game on a team that should once again be atop the Midwest Athletic Conference and Division III AP State Poll. Even with the defensive attention that will be paid towards Ahrens, he has enough talent to score in bunches.
Jordan Burge
Burge is the top returning player on last season’s Division IV State Championship team at Lutheran East. The Ashland commit is perfectly capable of leading Lutheran East on another run, even though they’ve moved up to Division III for Competitive Balance. He challenges defenders on the drive and showed improvement as a shooter in the offseason.
Dorian Crutcher
Crutcher finished within a point of the 20 points per game mark last season, when he earned Third Team All State honors. Crutcher’s knockdown shooting ability stretches the floor and opens it up for Elyria Catholic.
Eric Mclaughlin
Mclaughlin will spend another season leading one of the top teams in Southeast Ohio. Lynchburg Clay should have a strong season behind their versatile Mount Vernon Nazarene commit, who is effective on the perimeter, high post, or around the rim.
Solomon Pierre-Louis
The Wellington School has a strong chance to represent Central Ohio in Division III after moving up from Division IV. They’re loaded with college prospects, but none are as talented as Pierre-Louis, an Air Force commit. Pierre-Louis has the ability to slide into the lane as a slasher and find creative ways to finish.
Caleb South
South will once again score 20 points per game for Bethel Tipp City this season. His teammate, Ryan Rose, should spread the defense out more than seasons passed because of his consistency as a 3-point shooter. Also, Bethel should hover around 20 wins once again this season.
Lorenzo Sparks
Sparks could repeat last season’s performance of averaging over 20 points per game on a 17-9 team and push his way onto First Team All State. If he and North College Hill are able to improve in even the slightest, he’s a lock to be amongst the top ten players in Division III.
Dylan Swingle
Swingle should elevate to about 25 points and 10-plus rebounds per game in his senior season at Paint Valley. He’s the most dominate physical presence you’ll find in all of Division III, as the 6’10” Duquesne commit is capable of scoring 30 points in the paint alone on any given night. Swingle should lead Paint Valley to a solid record this season too.
Jayson Woodrich
Woodrich’s dynamic shooting ability gives us reason to believe that Beachwood is going to be a team to watch this season. He hardly needs separation from anywhere on the court to fire away. The 6’4” junior guard will be all over Division II college radars by the end of this season.
Chase Yoho
Even if many people haven’t heard of Bellaire High School in Southeast Ohio, all you need to know is that Yoho averaged 32.1 points per game last season. The crafty guard has an uncanny ability to get to the free throw line, allowing for incredible scoring numbers.