Rankings Overview: Top 10 Frontcourts
* This is an edited version of the article from when it was first posted. We made a mistake in not including Garfield Heights, the no. 1 ranked frontcourt in Ohio. A weeklong series of Rankings Overview content will answer various questions…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading* This is an edited version of the article from when it was first posted. We made a mistake in not including Garfield Heights, the no. 1 ranked frontcourt in Ohio.
A weeklong series of Rankings Overview content will answer various questions about the upcoming high school season regarding college talent and teams to watch, for both fans and scouts.
Specifically:
- Who are the 10 most talented teams?
- Who are the 10 most talented frontcourts and backcourts?
- Which teams are deepest in college talent?
- Which programs are on the rise?
- Who are the most talented small schools?
We’re not just pulling names out of a hat or going on hunches, either. Instead, we’ve got a formula. True science coming atcha!
Here’s how it works: every ranked player is assigned a numerical value based on their rank. For example, there are 200 players in the 2019 Prospect Rankings and prospect no. 1 counts for 200 points, no. 2 counts for 199, all the way down to no. 200 counting for 1 point. In the 2020 Prospect Rankings, the no. 1 player counts for 173 points because there are 173 ranked prospects. For 2021, there are 106 players.
So, we’ve totaled the values for each team and pulled which teams ranked highest in said categories. For example, Hamilton has 401 total points from D’Marco Howard (no. 68 in 2019 = 133 points), Jaylen Robinson (104 points), Trey Robinson (134 points), and Roemello Diablo (27 points). That also accounts for 237 backcourt points, 164 frontcourt points, and 164 rising teams points, which we’ll explain more on Friday.
If you can’t tell, the process of it was super boring, unless you’re a real nerd like me. But the results are interesting! Such as, when you consider each team’s threes, fours, and fives, you can determine the state’s top frontcourts.
#1 Garfield Heights: 493 points
Wings: Jesse Laster
Forwards: Brison Waller + Brent Darby Jr.
Centers: Gilbert Davis
The Bulldogs’ athletic and skilled frontcourt will compliment an all-Johnson backcourt as they try to capitalize on the ridiculous amount of talent in their program between the 2019-2022 classes. Waller is a nightmare matchup for opponents almost every night with his ability to run the floor and finish over the defense. Meanwhile, Darby Jr.’s game took a leap this summer as he extended his shooting range. High-effort defensive contributions from Laster and Davis would be sufficient.
#2 Lakewood: 469 points
Wings: Tim Smith + Zion Kolodynski-Darby
Forwards: Tommy Sala
Lakewood’s trio of skilled senior wings and forwards makes them one of the most interesting teams to follow this season. The highest ranked player, Smith, will have a large playmaking and ball-handling role. He’s a pass-first slasher who can defend with length at the basket. Meanwhile, Sala and Kolodynski-Darby provide shooting, rebounding, and defensive toughness. Collectively, they’re tough to matchup with on offense, but they have the mobility to defend smaller lineups.
All three are committed to college programs as Smith will go to Cal. Penn, Sala to Nova Southeastern, and Kolodynski-Darby to Fairmont State.
#3 Upper Arlington: 440 points
Wings: Max Martz
Forwards: CJ Karsatos
Centers: Max Mollman
While Mollman is more of defensive and rebounding specialist, Martz and Karsatos are UA’s two most talented shot-creators. Both can score inside, outside, and on the attack. Although Martz, a Penn commit, was the only of this trio to play significant minutes last season, the Golden Bears will need to optimize each one of these players to be a contender in the Central Region of Division I.
#4 Moeller: 420 points
Wings: Max Land
Forwards: Alec Pfriem
Centers: Logan Duncomb
Moeller is perennially one of the most physical teams in the state, a trademark that led them to a Division I State Championship behind seniors Jeremiah Davenport and Jaxson Hayes last season. Outside of Pfriem, who averaged 7.7 PPG last year, this year’s frontcourt is talented but unproven. Duncomb, a sophomore, gives them a scrappy but less athletic dynamic at the five. Land compensates for the loss of Davenport and Hayes in terms of rebounding and defending with athleticism.
#5 Lakota East: 361 points
Wings: Bash Wieland + Grant Spicer
Forwards: Alex Mangold
This is a disciplined and physical group who should control the glass on most nights and will be patient enough to wait for high-percentage looks. Wieland, a Bellarmine commit, and Mangold should be top two in the team in both points and rebounds.
#6 Pickerington Central: 358 points
Wings: Garner Wallace
Forwards: Sam Towns + Elhadji Thiam
Centers: Coleton Landis
For as much that’s been made about Pick Central’s backcourt, the senior tandem of Towns and Landis might not be receiving enough preseason hype. Landis’s is best as a low-post scorer and rebounder. Meanwhile, Towns likes to pick-and-pop, attack on face-ups, and can move his feet on switches. The complimentary skill-sets should provide freedom for each to focus on their strengths.
#7 Lutheran East: 344 points
Wings: Dayvon Adams
Forwards: Nehemiah Benson + Jalin Billingsley
With a foursome of talented guards who can all handle the ball and score it, it’s hard to say how Lutheran East will use their size. Looking forward to the OHSAA Division III postseason, it’s hard to imagine another small school being able to matchup if they go big, though. Regardless, we expect Benson and Adams to be relied upon for their rebounding and physicality.
#8 Cleveland Heights: 320 points
Forwards: Jaelyn Withers + Nigel Martin
A pair of transfers will allow Heights to remain competitive after losing a ton of talent in the 2018 class. Withers is coming in from North Mecklenburg in North Carolina. Currently the no. 1 2019 prospect in Ohio, Withers’ combination of size and skill is unmatched statewide. Meanwhile, look for Martin to take a step up from his John Hay days if his ball-handling ability comes along.
#8 Hilliard Davidson: 320 points
Wings: Jacob Drees
Forwards: Christian Gillian + Gage Keys
A year after finishing 13-10, Davidson is expected by many to finish near the top of the Ohio Capital Conference in Columbus. Heightened expectations start with the combination of Drees and Keys, a one-two punch of versatility and physicality. Meanwhile, Gillian is a shooting specialist with size.
#10 Convoy Crestview: 290 points
Forwards: Javin Etzler + Kalen Etzler
Crestview is the only Division IV program even sniffing this top ten list. The Etzler brothers contribute many of the same things — sheer size, outside shooting, rebounding — but Javin is a more physical player and consistent shooter. Meanwhile, Kalen is a bouncier athlete who can defend almost every position at this level.
#11 Withrow: 278 points
Wings: Mike Hill
Centers: Abba Lawal
Withrow should tally a huge number of points in the paint as Lawal is an interior scorer and Hill is best at getting to the rim. Both of their strengths reside on the defensive end, though, as Lawal protects the basket and Hill’s athleticism makes an impact against wings.