2019 Ohio Division I Preview
Anderson- Redskins fans will try and forget last season as Anderson finished a poor 2-21. What makes matters worse is much of last year’s roster has graduated with only 4 guys back. Leading scorer James Camden is back as is…
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Continue ReadingAnderson- Redskins fans will try and forget last season as Anderson finished a poor 2-21. What makes matters worse is much of last year’s roster has graduated with only 4 guys back. Leading scorer James Camden is back as is junior Josh Overbeek, but inexperience and a lack of a consistent scorer is going to make things difficult yet again for Anderson. We expect another down year for the Redskins and for this season to be a struggle.
Beavercreek- Steve Pittman will take over for the Beavers after Mark Hess left for Troy. Pittman inherits a team that loses 3 starters, but has plenty of role guys and young talent coming back. Leading scorer Chris Herbort vastly improved last season and has become the top guy for the Beavers next season. Also returning are fellow seniors Yousef Saleh at the guard spot, and forward Mali Harris-Strayhorn. Bench support and balanced scoring will be an issue early on, but there is enough talent in Beavercreek that we could see them compete near the top of the GWOC in 2019-2020.
Belmont- The Bison lose their starting point guard from last season, but Art Winston has enough talent coming back to stay near the top of the Dayton City League. Shawn Phillips is one of the most exciting players in the City League, and he’s only a sophomore. Not many players can guard him and his 6’9 frame. Add senior Latrell Estes and you have one of the better frontcourt duos in the league. If the Bison can get a backcourt scoring threat and keep up in the up-tempo game that makes the Dayton City League unique, they can hang with some of the better teams in the league.
Butler- The Aviators celebrated another 20+ win season in 2019 and won the GWOC North title. An emotional exit against Fairmont in the sectionals ended Butler’s two year run that saw the Aviators go 40-7 over the time. Unfortunately, a lot of pieces have moved on. For starters, coach DJ Wyrick is now the head coach at Fairfield HS. Speaking of starters, Butler returns 0 starters from last season’s team. Senior Cooper Justice and junior Tyler Montague are the top returning players, but both came off the bench and averaged a combined 12 points per game last season. Both will relieve the losses in the backcourt, but post defense and rebounding will be a struggle for this team. The move to the MVL will help since much of the league is rebuilding, but we could see Butler struggle immensely in D1.
Carroll- The Patriots found themselves finishing similar to their GCL rival Alter as they were playing some of their best basketball by the time March came around. After losing two straight games in early January, Carroll went 7-3 the rest of the way, and finished 12-11 for the season. Unfortunately, a lot of talent is gone as 4 starters graduated from the Patriots team. The lone returning man is senior Jaden Dahm, a lengthy forward that led the team in rebounds last year. Many names that came off the bench a year ago will need to step into bigger roles if the Patriots are going to succeed in Division 1. In the backcourt, sophomore Logan Broaddus will likely take over the point guard duties while junior Sam Severt will need to become an improved scorer. One name to watch will be Maro Egodotaye, a 6’9 shot blocking forward that will give the Patriots a weapon on both ends of the floor and could be a difference maker in the GCL North race.
Centerville- The Elks made such a deep run in the Division I tournament last season, making it all the way to the Regional Finals 59-41 to a very good Moeller team. Unfortunately, a lot of that talent is now gone as the Elks lose 4 of 5 starters from their team. Their one returning player may be one of the most dominant low post forces in Southwest Ohio in senior Mo Njie. Njie along with his sophomore brother Kebba will be looked upon for control of the paint. Freshman Gabe Cupps will likely run the point. Rich Rolf will provide additional help form the post if he can recover from a torn ACL a year ago. Talent wise, Centerville is one of the better teams in the GWOC. However, with the amount of youth and inexperience they have, it could be difficult for the Elks to compete early on and we could see some struggles come postseason.
Colerain- The Cardinals lose all 5 starters and their top 8 scorers from last season and will try to improve off their 10-14 record a year ago. Although they led the GMC in scoring with 59 points per game, the players lost will make it difficult to repeat the feat let alone compete in a very tough GMC. Junior Brandon Sinclair will be the top guy back, but averaged 2 points and 1 rebound per game last year. With teams like Lakota East, Princeton, and Mason being in the conference, the Cardinals will need to play incredible defense and cut down on the 60 points per game allowed last year.
Edgewood- Edgewood finished 5-18 a year ago, but their slower style of play kept several games closer than they should have been. Many games win or lose were held to less than 50 points scored for either team. This upcoming season could be better although they lose 4 starters. John Shepherd played well in the games he appeared in, but missed the second half of the season after transferring in from Carlisle. Peyton Daley is back after appearing in every game a year ago. Depth and inexperience will be the biggest issues as Edgewood tries to move up the ladder in the SOC, but may find themselves struggling as the season goes on.
Elder- Last season’s leading scorer is back for the Panthers, but they lose 5 seniors from their 14-11 team. Willard Cluxton is back and will lead the scoring out of the backcourt. He will have some talented guards around him, but the question will be whether Elder can get a consistent scoring threat out of the post. In addition, the outside shooting needs to vastly improve as the Panthers shot 28% from behind the arc in 2018. Last year Moeller was the dynamic team in the GCL South and 2019 looks the same this year. We think Elder has enough talent to not finish last in the GCL South, but it’s going to be a struggle to compete with Moeller’s depth and talent and LaSalle’s returning experience.
Fairborn- Skyhawk fans will see a new look team starting in November. All 5 starters from last season are gone as is their top 6 scorers from the season. Junior Cole Spencer is the top returning player that appeared in more than half the games last year. It will be difficult for anyone to replicate the success the 2019 class brought for Fairborn and surely the move to the MVL will help soften the blow. If they can get additional help from fellow returning players, Fairborn could be a tough out.
Fairfield- Fairfield finished below .500 a year ago, but found some success winning a sectional game with West Clermont before falling to Winton Woods. 3 starters have graduated but not all is lost. Leading scorer Zavian Ricks is back and will use his outside shooting touch to lead the Indians. He will be accompanied by fellow senior Caleb Cropenbaker who will need to step into an improved role after averaging 2 points and 2 rebounds per game. The rebounding was great last year as the Indians were 2nd in the conference but they will need to continue this feat if they are going to compete near the top of the GMC.
Fairmont- The Firebirds took a double whammy as they lost their head coach and 4 of 5 starters from their District runner-up team a year ago. Between their departed seniors, Fairmont loses 45 points per game. Senior Andre O’ Daniel is the top returning player and should take over primary ball handler and scoring responsibilities. Senior Kaleb Hall provided minutes off the bench a year ago but will have to become more of a role player for the Firebirds if they are to continue the success they’ve had over the past 4 years. Kenny Molz will become the new head coach as he replaces Blair Albright and tries to keep the high expectation culture alive in Kettering.
Franklin- Coach Brian Bales returns a group of seniors that look to improve off of last year’s 14-9 finish. Will Emrick and Zack Minton are the top 2 returning scorers and give the Wildcats multiple weapons on the offensive end. Can’t forget Ryan Russell as well as another outside sharpshooter. Keep an eye on junior Xavier Combs as another outside threat. The big area of concern will be Franklin’s ability to include the post play. Depending too much on their outside shooting could cost them close games in SWBL play. Competitive balance kept Franklin in Division I again. Unlike last season, we think Franklin has enough talent back that they can win a game in the sectionals. However, playing mostly Division II-III teams in league play will make tournament play in Division I difficult to prepare for.
Goshen- Goshen fans should be excited for the upcoming season as they bring back 5 of their top 7 from a team that finished 13-10 and tied Western Brown for 2nd in the SBAAC. Leading scorer Josh Hice is back and will be the primary scoring option in 2019. There is a pretty nice balance between the returning guys in the backcourt and frontcourt. Offensively, Goshen will need to continue to do well behind the arc shooting but needs to do a better job of protecting the glass as their rebounding was not great a year ago. We are giving Western Brown the edge over Goshen due to the presence of Zyon Tull on their roster. That being said, Goshen is within striking distance of the Broncos and has shown they can beat them. In addition, Goshen moves up to Division I and will try to compete with the new move.
Hamilton- Inconsistency was an issue for the Big Blue last season as they had glimpses of being a deep tournament team, but also struggled against weaker foes in the GMC. One of the better scoring teams last season, Hamilton brings back senior Trey Robinson, who can take over a game scoring and will step into a larger role in 2019-20. Senior Braedyn Jackson is also back and will try and give Robinson another scoring threat in the backcourt. Robinson will take them as far as he can, but playing against several quality defensive teams means other guys will need to step up when Robinson is double teamed or having an off night.
Harrison- We like what we see in this Harrison team as they prepare for the 2019 season. 2 starters are gone from a team that was top 3 in points allowed in the conference. Although they lose 2 starters, 4 of their top 5 scorers from last season are back. On the inside, they have some size in seniors Connor Kinnett and Will Nieman who are 6’4 and 6’5. Sam Heimkreiter is the top returning guard and is part of a very good shooting team, especially in the backcourt. With a nice balance, we think Harrison can challenge Ross for a conference title as they split the regular season meetings.
Kings- 4 of Kings losses a year ago were by 5 points or less. Winning those games would have helped the feeling of defeat as they finished 7-16 for the season. 4 starters are departed as the Knights look to this year with the help of senior P.J. Marchal as he returns in the frontcourt as the top returning player. Offense was not a strong point for the Knights last year and there are concerns how this season will look with the top 4 scorers from last year graduating. Expect a rebuilding year as Kings looks to reload their depleted roster.
Lakota East- Coach Clint Adkins loses 3 starters from a 20-6 team that fell to Moeller in the Regional Semifinals. Even with the loss of their top 2 leading scorers, East could be an early favorite to repeat in the GMC. Senior Alex Mangold will return from an injured leg in 2018 and be the top inside presence with his 6’6 frame. Fellow senior Kaden Fuhrmann will lead the attack out of the backcourt along with wing Nate Johnson. Adkins’ teams always play solid defense and this group should continue this tradition. As long as this happens, I see this East team as the #2 team in Cincinnati again.
Lakota West- The top 3 scorers are back for West as they rebound from a 5-18 finish a year ago. 2019 should be a much improved season for the Firebirds as senior Carter Combs and junior Kelvin Turner will lead the scoring yet again. This could finally be the year West gets back above .500. It will be a challenge with the talent in the conference, but the Firebirds at the very least should be improving from their 5 wins a year ago.
LaSalle- It is not often we see the Lancers struggling in the GCL and having a record close to .500 overall. 2018-19 was a rarity as LaSalle finished 12-11 and went 2-4 in the GCL. The good news is 4 starters are back in 2019-20 and should allow the Lancers to improve and create some separation between their wins and losses. The senior backcourt of Jaylen Lemons and Derek Eddings are bound to have a big season this year and will provide the majority of the scoring for this Lancer offense. We do think the defense needs to improve as the Lancers allowed 51 points per game a year ago and averaged less than 50 on the offensive end. The experience back though makes us believe this year will be much improved and we should see LaSalle runner-up to Moeller in the GCL South.
Lebanon- The Warriors finished 10-13 last year and took an early exit in the sectionals to Miamisburg. Fortunately for them, plenty of talent is back. 4 of 5 starters are back as Lebanon looks to improve in GWOC play. Seniors Milo White and Luke Arnold are back and should make the Warriors backcourt one of the better groups in the GWOC. Additional scoring and overall offensive skill will be issues to watch early on.
Little Miami- The Panthers are losing quite a bit of talent from last season’s 10-14 team that tied for 3rd in the SOC with Harrison. Junior Ketan Prathapa is the top guy back, but he averaged 5 points per game a year ago. This is a team that was not very good at defending the rim and also got beat up on the boards. The Panthers will need to find an alternative option to help Prathapa, specifically if they can find someone that can be an interior threat on both ends of the floor.
Loveland- Hopes were high to start last year as Loveland started 5-0 including wins against Aiken and Walnut Hills. As the season progressed, the Tigers struggled finishing 7-11 the rest of the way. The top 3 scorers from last season are gone as are the top 3 rebounders. Seniors Ian Cox and Collin Hedgepeth are the 2 returning starters and will be leaned on to guide the Tigers through a physical ECC. Rebounding is the X-Factor as Loveland is losing their top threats from a year ago and have to face some serious height in the conference. I think this will be a challenge and expect Loveland to struggle this year.
Mason- Comets fans were disappointed after watching their team fall in the District finals last season to Centerville 49-43. 4 starters are graduated for the Comets as they try to repeat their feat in 2019-20. Senior Jack Cooper is the lone starter back and will give Mason their inside presence as he returns as the Comets leading rebounder a year ago. 6’4 senior Mitchell Greer is also back giving the Comets a solid frontcourt. Rebounding should not be an issue, but Mason will need a double digit scorer to rely on for the year.
Miamisburg- The last two seasons have been fun for Vikings to watch. 2019 could be a bit of rebuilding season as the Vikings will struggle to replicate their 17-7 finish last year. 4 starters are gone, including Miamisburg’s top 3 scorers from last year. Dane Hall returns in the frontcourt after missing the last several games of the season last year. The Vikings welcome back former Miamisburg guard Savon O’Neal who spent last year at Franklin and returns for his senior year. He will provide a constant scoring threat out of the backcourt. Junior Alex Ball will become a complimentary piece to help O’Neal. After Hall and Bell, not a lot of experienced scoring is back and will be a concern in the GWOC.
Middletown- The new year was not good for the Middies. After finishing 4-11 in 2019, Middletown will need to vastly improve in 2020. It will be difficult when they lose 6 of their top 9 players from last year. Rob Thompson returns in the backcourt while senior Johrdon Mumford is back as the top inside player. Middletown’s defense and ability to rebound the ball was where they excelled a year ago. For them to compete, we will need to see the Middies find additional scoring options.
Milford- Eagles fans celebrated a 13-12 season which included victories against LaSalle, Walnut Hills, and Taft during the season. This upcoming season is going to be a lot different as 7 of the top 8 guys from a year ago are now gone. Senior Jack Liles is the only guy back that appeared in 20+ games. The next guy appeared in only 9 games. Inexperience will be an obvious issue from the start. In addition, the Eagles lose a lot of their height and rebounding from a year ago. 2019 will be more about getting experience and rebuilding and should not expect another 13 win season.
Moeller – Coach Carl Kremer finished off the perfect year last season with an undefeated season and a Division I state championship. 3 seniors graudated for the Crusaders, especially in the backcourt. The good news is however, Moeller still has copious amounts of talent that makes them a contender to defend their title. The frontcourt is absolutely loaded. Senior wing Max Land is an athletic wing while juniors Logan Duncomb and Alex Williams give the Crusaders true low post threats as well as guys that can attack off the dribble. Junior Aidan Noyes is another name that will have a chance to make an impact in his first year on varsity. Although most of the departing talent is in the backcourt, junior Will McCracken is back and will run the offense at the guard position. The backcourt will also add depth with Northwest transfer Evan Mahaffey assuming he is eligible for the entire year.
Mount Healthy- The Owls had a very successful season last year, winning the SOC with an 11-1 record and 16-8 overall finish. Unfortunately, this season looks to be a mountain to climb to repeat, as Mt. Healthy returns 4 of their top 11 guys from a year ago. One of the better offensive teams in the SOC, the Owls do return 6’3 senior Brandon Lanier and 6’0 sophomore Kollin Tolbert and should still stay competitive. That being said, shooting 30% from behind the arc will make it difficult in tight games, especially if they aren’t knocking down shots that day. As long as the Owls have weapons defensively to allow them to compete still, they should be able to hang around the top of the conference in 2019.
Northmont- This season could be a breakout year for the Thunderbolts. After a 7-16 finish a year ago, Northmont loses 2 starters, but has 4 of their top 5 scorers back from a year ago. The junior class is well represented for Northmont, who could be a contender in 2020-21 if not this season. Patrick Ivory is the leading scorer back and should only see his numbers increase this season. Junior Jordan Smith is the top returning rebounder and will continue to be the inside enforcer for Northmont. Keep an eye on Justin Golson in the backcourt as well. This Northmont team is good enough to be competitive this season, but I think they are a year away from tapping their true potential and setting up a nice postseason run.
Northwest- The Knights do not have a completely bare cabinet after an 8-15 finish a year ago, however some of their better rebounders are departed. Of the returning players, junior Steven Grau is the top scorer back with 10 points per game a year ago. The Knights will not be as dominate of a team on the glass this year and will likely stay in the middle of the conference again in 2019-20.
Oak Hills- 3 starters have graduated from the Highlanders as they try to repeat their 16-7 campaign from last season. Several seniors are back to help make this happen. Cam Brandt and Kelen Dietrich will be heavily depended on in the backcourt for leadership on both ends of the floor. Scoring productivity was already an issue last year and with 4 of the top 7 scorers now gone, repeating at the top of the conference will be tough.
Piqua- Last season was a year Piqua would like to forget after finishing 7-16. Losing 3 starters which included their top 3 scorers and top 2 rebounders will be tough for the Indians to replace, even with the move to the MVL. Juniors Garrett Schrubb and Kameron Darner will see their roles expand as they take over the primary scoring options. Piqua struggled against GWOC teams last season and will need to show they can win some league games this year. If the Indians can get some assistance from other young players to help Schrubb and Darner, they could be a competitive team in the MVL.
Princeton- Coach Steve Wright’s team was looking like a contender for most of the season last year, before falling short against Lakota East 52-43 in the postseason. 2019-20 could be even better as the Vikings return their top 8 guys from this past season. The backcourt is loaded with seniors DeAirius Randle, Khalil Davis, and Kaleb Crawford, and also super sophomore Bowen Hardman. The frontcourt is just as good. Jahiem Thomas is the top returning rebounder while Micah Thomas is also back to give additional length. With the amount of seniors and talent on this roster, Princeton easily could win the GMC and could challenge Moeller for the top spot in Cincinnati.
Sidney- There was a ton of optimism going into 2018-19 as Andre Gordon returned and the Yellow Jackets had returned plenty of talent returning from the year prior. A 20-5 finish is solid, but a 65-60 loss against Springfield in the sectionals was definitely an earlier exit than many expected. Gordon is among 4 starters that are gone. Darren Taborn is a two-sport athlete and returns as the expected scoring threat for the Yellow Jackets. Juniors Lathan Jones and Trey Werntz will step into larger roles and should help make this Sidney team a tough team to defend. Outside shooting and interior play will be areas of concern and we do not expect Sidney to be as competitive.
Springboro- The Panthers found some success near the end of last year, winning 4 of their last 5, including upsetting Fairborn in sectional play. 5 seniors are gone from this team, but all 5 played important roles in the rotation for Springboro. Willeon Yates is back for his senior year and will run the offense in the backcourt. Fellow senior Noah Moser is also back, but will need to become a more consistent scorer for them to be competitive. Landon Palmer will be a name to watch as he tries to help replace the rebounding and low post play gone with graduation.
Springfield- A lot of talent and a lot of scoring is gone from the Wildcats as they enter 2019-20. 2 starters are gone, but both departing players were the team’s leading scorers. The backcourt is solid with seniors Jalan Minney and Larry Stephens coming back for another run. Jeff Tolliver will also be back and will provide another athletic guard for the Wildcats. There are a total of 5 seniors returning that played quality minutes for the Wildcats a year ago. The experience coming back gives the Wildcats an edge in the GWOC and should provide some fun basketball to watch. The Wildcats should be favorites in the GWOC if Centerville struggles early on with their inexperience and youth.
St. Xavier- The Bombers struggled immensely in the GCL South a year ago, winning only once and finishing 10-13 for the year. Michael Noszka comes over from Wilmington to coach the Bombers in 2019-20. His winning experience with the Hurricanes should replicate for St. X, but could take a year to get there after the Bombers lose 3 starters from last year. Frontcourt teammates Hank Thomas and Danny Greive are back and the leading scorers from last year. The top 3 scoring guards from last year are gone which means Noszka will need to find new scoring threats in the backcourt. It truly is difficult to see anyone in the GCL South capable of jumping Moeller. Because of this, it will be a race for the runner-up spot in the South. We think if St. X gets the baclcourt scoring, they could challenge for 2nd. If not, we realistically see them competing with Elder for 3rd place.
Stebbins- For the first time in some time, Stebbins could see themselves competing at the top of their league as they move to the MVL. They lose only one starter from last season’s 6-17 team. Plenty of seniors will lead the way in 2019, starting with guard Jalen Tolbert. Ryan Hickey and Bradyn Pennington will provide the support needed in the perimeter and on the blocks. One name to watch will be Kelby Cox, a sharp shooting guard that should evolve into a starter come November. Expectations will be high with the experience on this roster. If Tolbert can become a consistent scoring threat, Stebbins should improve off of their 6 wins last year.
Sycamore- The Aves were in the middle of the pack a year ago finishing 12-13 on the year. Sycamore has a bit of a challenge in front of them as they lose 4 starters that contributed a lot to Sycamore’s success. Oliver Wittenbaum is the top returning player and is part of a junior class that can contribute a lot in the next year.
Talawanda- If you are a Talawanda basketball fan, you probably want to forget last year as the Brave finished 1-22 and failed to win a game in the SOC. 2019 should see them win more than 1 game, but they still are not ready to climb into the top half of the conference. The Brave will rely heavily on their juniors Craig James and Jonathan Richter. With plenty of young players on the roster, Talawanda will have a shot at developing their guys and hopefully challenge Edgwood and Little Miami. One area of optimism is Talawanda led the conference in rebounding a year ago. IF they can continue this feat plus improve on the defensive end (allowed 60 points per game), we could see the Brave out of the basement in the conference.
Tecumseh- Last season’s Arrows team was a young group that was expected to struggle in a senior heavy CBC. 2019-20 should be improved but Tecumseh will still struggle with them playing in Division I for sectional play. Leading scorer Easton Lewis is back and brings back 19 points per game from a year ago. Junior Donovan Collins had glimpses of strong play last season and will be looked upon to help Lewis with scoring the basketball. Interior play will be a challenge as the top performers from last season are now graduated. Although the Arrows should improve from their 4 win season last year, they lack the athleticism to compete in the Division I sectional.
Troy- Troy basketball will have a new coach at the helm as former Beavercreek coach Mark Hess takes over a program looking for a spark and jump above .500. They lose 2 of their top 3 scorers from last year, but also bring back 4 players that averaged more than 7.0 points per game. Junior Shaeden Olden is the top returning scorer and will hopefully be able to play a full season after missing the first few games of last year. Austin Stanaford is the top returning rebounder and should see a larger role throughout the year. Hess will bring a competitive aspect to the Trojans that should allow them to continue sitting in the top of their division, even with a move to the MVL.
Turpin- The Spartans found some success late last year, winning 7 of their last 8 before falling by 1 to Winton Woods. 5 of the top 7 players from last year are back and will try to repeat their 18-6 record. Senior Owen Spencer is the top returning player and Jackson Holt is the top returning scorer. Defense and depth will be the strong points and allow the Spartans the opportunity to compete with West Clermont in the ECC this year. Rebounding will have to improve if they are going to get past the Wolves.
Walnut Hills- The Eagles finished 3rd in the ECC a year ago at 14-9 and were up and down during the year. Although there are multiple seniors that graduated, Walnut Hills has some talent returning that will give them an edge in ECC play. A ton of height is back as they return 4 guys over 6’4. Nic Smith is the top returning rebounder and interior guy. Junior Collin Miller is the name to watch in the backcourt. The Eagles showed they could score the ball well finishing among the top teams in points per game. Their ability to create turnovers on the defensive end and protect the rim will be crucial. If Smith and the rest of this team can control the glass and continue the offensive execution, Walnut Hills could challenge for the ECC.
Wayne- The Warriors finished 14-10 on the season, but had some inconsistencies in their play during the season. To make matters worse, coach Nate Martindale loses all 5 starters from last season’s squad. Several new additions as well as returning guys should still help the Warriors be competitive. Junior guards Malcom Curry and Cam Fancher come back and should step into the starting roles in the backcourt. The Warriors also welcome Damiene Boles from Stebbins who will bring his scoring touch to the Warriors after leading the Indians in scoring a year ago. Keep an eye also on Lawrent Rice, a freshman guard that could make an impact early on if he is playing varsity ball his rookie season. Wayne always finds a way to stay competitive and I still expect the Warriors to be a tough opponent in the new look GWOC.
West Carrollton- The last few seasons has been a struggle for the Pirates as they have tried to rebound off continuous losing seasons in the GWOC. Although they lose 2 starters from last season’s team, the morale is still high and expectations are high as the Pirates move on from the GWOC and start life in the MVL in 2019-2020. Seniors Austin Jones and Kalen McKinney will be looked upon for leadership and be team leaders. Keep an eye on junior Jye’Ton Howard in the backcourt.
West Clermont- The Wolves celebrated a 17-6 finish last year and outright ECC title. With a solid group of seniors returning, they could easily repeat in 2019. Jackson Ames returns and uses his 6’9 frame to make a difference on the glass and as a defensive anchor. Backcourt player D.J. Vianello is also back and will be able to score the basketball yet also get the ball to Ames when possible. The Wolves excel on the defensive end creating turnovers and protecting the rim. Where they will need to improve is their outside shooting. Ames will be the focal point of the offense, but if an opposing team finds a way to take him out of the game, West Clermont will need another way to score the ball.
Western Brown – At first glance, the Broncos may be the early favorites to come out of the American Division as they return 4 of their top 8 guys from last year. Last season’s leading scorer Zyon Tull is back and will be the go-to guy for Western Brown this season on the offensive end. He will be accompanied by fellow guard Ian Schafer and junior big man Yani Williams. The Broncos were aggressive on the defensive end of the floor finishing 2nd in steals in the conference. As long as they can find alternative options for Tull, Schafer, and Williams for off games, we expect Western Brown to jump Clinton-Massie for the top spot this season in the SBAAC American.
Western Hills- The Mustangs struggled in the CMAC after a 3-7 finish in conference play. With a loaded Red Division it will be difficult for Western Hills to move up much more. 6 of the top 7 are back, including Aboubacar Cisse and Demetrius Watkins. Offensive firepower will not be an issue for this team as they averaged nearly 70 points per game last year. However, rebounding will need to improve as the Mustangs were in the bottom half of the conference a year ago. We do not foresee Western Hills competing with the likes of Hughes, Taft, and Aiken but they could be a dark horse in Division I sectional play.
Winton Woods- 5 seniors are departed for the Warriors as they look to improve off last season’s District Runner-Up season. Seniors Aaron Ward will be heavily relied on as will junior Demari Martin. The Warriors play a very tough schedule due to them being an independent and having no league/conference affiliation. This allows them to play anybody and thus helps prepare for the postseason. We believe with the talent coming back this group is a top team in Cincinnati in Division I.
Withrow- Hopes were high for the Tigers as some expected them to be a top 10 team in Cincinnati. Instead, the Tigers never got it going, including winning only twice in December, in route to an 8-16 finish. To make matters worse, their top 2 players from a year ago are graduated. There is hope for Withrow however as their leading scorer Ivan Mason is back as is guard Niles Whatley to form some leadership for Withrow. In addition, the Tigers have 4 guys 6’4 or taller that should help keep the Tigers as one of the best rebounding teams in the conference. Offensively is where we expect Withrow to struggle. Averaging 45 points per game a year ago and shooting 26% from behind the arc will not get a team far in conference play. We believe Withrow has potential to be a top 4 team in the conference if the offense can improve.
Xenia- The Buccs lose Mr. Basketball in Ohio in Samari Curtis and will look to replenish plenty of scoring. Junior Dylan Hoosier is the top returning scorer and will run the point for Xenia. 4 starters including Curtis are gone, but Xenia brings back junior Zack Gaither who will provide support in the paint. He should see an improved role as he moves into the starting rotation. If Xenia can find answers to their scoring and also play improved defense, the MVL can be an achievable feat but will be a struggle no doubt.
Chillicothe- The Cavaliers were dominant in the FAC last season, going 9-1 in route to a conference title. The good news is much of their talent is back in 2019-20. Senior Tre Beard comes back and will run the point for the Cavs. In addition, seniors Jayvon Maughmer and Brandon Noel, committed to Cedarville and Wright State, are also back and will both compete for Player of the Year honors in the FAC. The bad news in all of this is the Cavs compete in Division I which will be difficult to compete against. In terms of FAC competition, it seems pretty clear the Cavs are the most dominant team and should defend their title again.
Dover- The Crimson Tornadoes celebrated an undefeated season in ECOL play last season and dominated their way to a 20-2 regular season record. Although they only lose 3 seniors from the year prior, all 3 were All-District players that will be sorely missed. The name to watch for Dover will be 6’4 senior Kade Ruegseggar. If the Tornadoes can find support that can help fill the void from the departing seniors, they will have a chance to be a top team in the league again.
Logan- The Chieftans lose explosive scorer Bo Myers along with 3 other seniors from a very good Logan team that fell early in the sectional tournament last season. Repeating their success will be quite hard as Logan will need to find new talent and most importantly, consistent scoring if they are going to compete again. All eyes will be on Tegan Myers as he continues to develop as he is only a sophomore. Unless the Chieftans can find talent to surround Myers, this season could be a down year as Logan rebuilds with life after Bo.
Anthony Wayne- The Generals finished 15-7 a year ago, beating the likes of Northview and Lima Senior during the year, but are losing 2 of their top 3 guys from last year. Returning is 6’4 senior Zachary Szul, an athletic guard that is one of the better offensive threats off the dribble in Northwest Ohio. As long as the Generals have alternative weapons that can support Szul, this could be a team that makes a run in the Northern Lakes League.
Ashland- The Arrows return 2 of their top 5 from last season. Senior Mitch Heilman will be the focal point and provide the senior leadership. Sophomore Luke Denbow emerged as one of the Arrows best players and could see himself having a solid career for the Arrows. However they must find other guys to reinforce Heilman and Denbow.
Bowling Green- Not enough info
Bowsher- The Rebels lose 2 All-District performers from a year ago. They will need to find replacements quickly as Rogers and Start look to be the top teams in the City League this year.
Findlay The Trojans return 4 of their top 6 from a 15-9 team that has a bright future ahead of them. Junior AJ Adams is an absolute animal on both ends of the floor and knows how to use his 6’4 frame to create mismatches. Fellow junior Chris Strzempka is a lengthy interior presence that defends the rim at a high level. Include sophomores Max Roth and Brock Makraney and you have one of the toughest teams in Northwest Ohio. This year could be a special season as the Trojans could be a breakout team.
Fremont Ross- Not enough info
Holland Springfield- 2 of the top 3 players from a year ago are gone for the Blue Devils as they will try and improve after finishing 9-13. Defense was not a strong point as they allowed 61 points per game. Fortunantly, 6’5 senior Deon Key returns and brings a high motor and tremendous athleticism to the court and will pace the Devils on both ends of the floor.
Lima Senior- Last season’s TRAC co-champs may be the oputright champions this season. It starts with their returning seniors Josiah Fulcher, Jamir Simpson, and Jadakis Mack. All 3 are 6’3 or taller and can score from any level. Add Elida transfer Dante Wheeler and the Spartans have some size with his 6’7 frame. With several other juniors and sophomores back as well, Lima has depth, size, athleticism, and skill. Sophomore Khalil Luster is only 5’4, but can take over games and is a tremendous distributor with great vision. In terms of TRAC competion, there are not many teams that could matchup with the Spartans. This could be a potential contender in Columbus and could compete for a state championship.
Madison Comprehensive- The Rams return 3 of their top 4 from a 6-16 team. Seniors Dylan Metz and Brian Joplin are going to be two names to watch while fellow senior Tyler Tackett will also be a key contributor. Competitiveness will be the biggest key as the Rams will need to be able to compete with Lexington and Mansfield.
Northview- Repeating last year’s undefeated season in the NLL will be quite difficult for the Wildcats, especially since they lose 2 All-League performers from last year. With a solid core of seniors returning and a very impressive sophomore, Northview can easily still be one of the best teams in the Northern Lakes League even with their departures. Leading the senior class is 5’9 guard Grant Hartnett who will have to continue to be a leader on both ends of the floor. 6’5 sophomore Sean Craig is lengthy and is the tallest player returning, making him a key piece for this Wildcats squad.
Oregon Clay- The Eagles will look to forget about their 2-19 finish last year where they only won once in TRAC play. This season they return some size in 6’7 senior Frank Waganfeald and 6’6 junior Noah Hagdohl. While the size will be a nice advantage, Clay must have the guard play to compete with the likes of Findlay and Lima Senior. This will be a nice team on the glass, but they just don’t have enough talent to compete.
Perrysburg- The Yellow Jackets lose only 2 seniors from last year. There is a lot to be confident about with the returning talent and their accomplishments. For starters, this team gave Northview their only loss of the season during the tournament. When you look at the returning talent, 2 of the top guys back were also top players last year. 6’8 senior Jackson Sizemore is a difference maker and uses his length to be a force on the defensive end. In addition, junior Ryan Dennis is also back and gives Sizemore a 1-2 duo worth watching. This season could eb a special year for Perrysburg if they can play together at the right time and get off to a fast start.
Southview- While Northview was the dominant team out of Sylvania last year, Southview was the opposite and struggled a bit. While many losses were single digits and were competitive against some of the best teams in the NLL, there is still room for improvement. 2 All-League players have graduated paving the road for junior Grant Pohl and sophomore AJ Jump to be the key personnel. Expect a rough year as the Cougars look to their youth to rebuild.
Start- While Rogers has received most of the attention so far this year, Start also has some depth, especially in the senior class. Caleb Smith, Dashad Floyd, and Adrian Michael are going to be relied on heavily to get Start through the City League.
Toledo Central Catholic- The Fighting Irish are one of the toughest teams in the TRAC. Of their 9 losses last year, only 3 were by double digits. A deep team, Central Catholic is led by seniors Jonzell Norrils and Dominque Cole. Although they are pretty athletic, the Irish must find a way to get past Lima Senior and Whitmer as they were the teams to beat last year. With Lima being absolutely loaded it will take an almost perfect game for the Irish to win or compete for a TRAC title.
Toledo St. Francis DeSales- The Knights lose 7 players from last year’s competitive team in the TRAC. DeSales was hit hard when their 6’6 junior Jamiya Neal transferred out to Rogers High School. Now the top returning players are 6’9 junior Cliron Hornbeak and 6’7 Martin Beredo. Junior guard Feisel Crumby will also play a vital role for the Knights. Known to be one of the tougher teams and clearly having plenty of size this year, we have concerns on how they will be able to defend the talented backcourts across the board in the TRAC.
Toledo St. John’s- The Titans pride themselves in their defensive tendencies. While they must rebound from a 10-11 season last year, there is plenty of talent coming back that makes St. John’s a team to watch in the TRAC. Upperclassmen Sam Swift and Shane Garcia are back and will be relied on for leadership. Two freshmen will have an opportunity to make an impact early for the Titans in Mike Greenlee and Jabari Conway. If they can focus on the defensive side of the game and can keep some of these high powered TRAC teams in check, St. John’s could find themselves pulling some upsets.
Waite- Not enough info
Whitmer- The Panthers lose 3 of their top 4 players from a co-champion in the TRAC. With Lima Senior having so much talent back and the emergence of Findlay and St. John’s as dark horses, Whitmer finds themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum in 2019. Senior Tony Delvaux is back but he will need additional supporting cast for the Panthers to compete.
Akron North- Last season was a nightmare for the young Vikings as they struggled throughout the season, especially in City Series play. Led by junior Elijah Humphery, North struggled to compete night in and night out especially against more athletic teams. While they were a young team last season, we expect struggles to continue this year as North looks to find their groove and likely will continue to struggle until they find their way.
Alliance- The Aviators look to repeat their success in 2018-19, but will be losing quite a bit of players due to graduation. 2 All-League performers are gone, but the cupboard is not completely bare. Senior Trevor Strata and junior Brandon Alexander are both back and will be guys worth watching. Defending their EBC title will be tough with Marlington and Carrollton bringing back some of their talent. We would expect at least a top 4 finish in the conference race.
Amherst Steele – The Comets return their top 4 scorers from last season and will look to improve off of their 4 win season a year ago. The talent is pretty spread out. Senior Christian Pfeiffer is the anchor in the paint with his 6’7 frame and is accompanied by 6’3 Ty Weatherspoon. Both were the top 2 scorers from last year. Senior Kyle Ferguson is also back and is the key in the backcourt. Improvement will have to start in the backcourt for the Comets to try and climb the ladder in the Southwestern Conference.
Archbishop Hoban- The Knights are taking some tough losses this upcoming year as they lose 4 of their top 6 guys from a team that excelled on the defensive end of the floor. Senior Dominick Moegerle is bound to have a breakout season and will be heavily relied on. Junior Darryl Peterson will look to fill the void in the scoring columns. If Hoban continues their defensive dominance, they should have little issues repeating their 18-6 season last year.
Austintown-Fitch- The Falcons return junior Todd Simons after leading the team in scoring and rebounding a year ago. Along with senior Kris Brown, this looks to be a solid 1-2 punch in the backcourt, but the Falcons lose a ton of their talent in the frontcourt and most of their size. After only winning 6 games last year, they will need some new names to step up and help with their scoring if they are to advance at all in the AAC.
Avon- The Eagles lose their top 3 scoring options from a year ago and frankly don’t bring back enough scoring threats to stay competitive. Juniors Niko Pappas and Dominic Rini will be relied on however a lack of height and experienced scoring is going to be what holds them back. With several teams in the conference losing talent Avon is not the only team looking to reload, but a lack of height is going to be tough to keep them competitive.
Avon Lake- The Shoremen are bringing back some serious size with 3 of their top guys coming back all standing over 6’3. All being seniors, Avon Lake should be one of the better rebounding teams in the Southwestern Conference next year. Nick Marsh and Nathan Sidloski are the better scoring threats while Creed Bolognia will be another guy to watch even though he wasn’t a high scorer. After a .500 finish last year, the Shoremen will definitely improve this season.
Barberton- The Magics finished below .500 a year ago and are down their top guy from a year ago. By the end of the year, they were playing their best basketball as they won their last 4 before falling 61-59 to Massillon Perry in the postseason. Fortunantly, the Magics bring back junior guard Jamair Blackmon who will now be tasked with being one of the primary scoring options for Barberton as they try to reload for Suburban League play.
Bedford- The Bearcats return 4 of their top 7 from last season’s 10-12 finish which saw them defeating Cleveland Heights and losing by only 6 to Lutheran East during the year. The backcourt will be solid this upcoming season with the return of juniors Chaze Harris and Malik Simmons. Harris averaged 19 points per game last year and will likely increase that number in 2019-20. Bedford is still going to struggle as the talent level in the returning schools is just too much.
Berea-Midpark – The Titans lose 2 of their top 4 from a year ago, including their leading scorer. 6’7 junior Alex Kvak will be the top returning guy and will be a force to reckon with considering his size. Josh Finkovich will be the senior leader and the scoring threat from the backcourt. Last season’s Titans found some success near the end of the year, but they must find a way to get past the top half of the conference in 2019-20.
Boardman- The Spartans return 3 of their top 4 scorers from last season’s AAC champions. Player of the Year Derrick Anderson is back and has a nice backcourt mate in fellow senior Daeone Martin. 6’6 junior Ethan Andersen is back after finishing 2nd on the team in rebounds last year. I like the core returning for the Spartans and if they can find consistent supporting cast, they should easily defend their title in the AAC Red Division.
Brecksville-Broadview Heights- The Bees were quite impressive a year ago, winning the Suburban League title and winning some impressive games, including defeating St. Ignatius in the tournament. While they lose their leading scorer, many guys are returning and thus allow the Bees on paper to be one of the top teams in the league again. A guard heavy roster, Brecksville has senior leadership in Tommy Barth and J.C. Sejba. The 2 will play key roles for the Bees to repeat. Juniors Joe Labas and Jeremy Jonozzo will also be guys worth watching. Interior play is going to be the biggest issue for this team and how they defend against bigger players.
Brunswick- The Blue Devils lose their top scoring threat from last season, but bring back their next 2 top guys as they look to improve after a 10-12 season last year. Junior Tre Massey and senior Trevor Mackey are the top guys back and should be the focal points in the offense. Brunswick found ways to compete with some of the better squads in the GCC last season, and could be a dangerous team if they can do the same in 2019-20.
Brush- The Arcs without a doubt were the best team in the Western Reserve League and will no doubtly be the top team again in 2019-20. Brush returns arguably the top post player in the state in 2020 in John Hugley, a 6’8 animal in the paint. While last season’s Arcs team had some serious athleticism in the backcourt that is now graduated, they return a talented sophomore in Elmore James who has already picked up Division I offers. Another name to watch will be freshman Marlon Barnes who just picked up an ACC offer not long ago. While last season’s team took an exit against Mentor, this year will be different as the Arcs will focus much on Hugley and while they have some youth, they should still be a top team in Northeast Ohio.
Canton GlenOak- The Golden Eagles started off rough last year, but found their way come January and finished with an okay season. The offseason was rough as they learned their star sophomore Josiah Harris was transferring to Richmond Heights. While the loss is a tough one to overcome, the cupboard is not completely bare as GlenOak returns 6’5 senior Christian Parker. Parker will be the focal point of the offense, but the question now becomes how will the backcourt play? If Harris was still here, this team could have been considered a favorite in the Federal League. Instead we expect a middle of the pack finish in the small, 7 team Federal League.
Canton McKinley- The Bulldogs had a bit of a disappointing season last year, struggling in the middle of the year and ultimately finishing in the bottom tier of the Federal League. They may be a year away as their top 2 returning guys are both juniors. Kobe Johnson is arguably one of the better scorers on this team and will likely be the go-to guy on the offensive end. Brent Walker is an animal on the block on both ends of the floor and will looked upon to be a force on the glass. With many of the top returning players in the Federal League being seniors, it may be another year before McKinley emerges as the top team in the league.
Cleveland Benedictine- The Bengals lost a heartbreaking Regional Semifinal to VASJ 66-62 ending their season. The upcoming season is promising because of the high level talent coming back. The senior class is deep and will be led by guards Jashun Cobb and Eric Buckner. Junior B.J. Busbee is another scoring option and gives Benedictine plenty of athleticism and talent on the perimeter. One tough loss is watching Andy Barba leave the program as he transferred out in the offseason. Benedictine showed they could compete with some of the best last season and now they have the personnel to make a push back to Columbus.
Cleveland Hayes- Not enough info
Cleveland Heights- The Tigers are returning 5 of their top 7 scorers from last season, including leading scorer senior Nigel Martin. Although they lose 1 All-District player, they are gaining 2 new All-District performers as they gain senior Garvin Clarke from Euclid and junior E.J. Farmer from Lutheran East. The addition of both guards makes the Tigers appear to be one of the favorites in the Lake Erie League and could even be a team worth watching in the Regional tournament.
Cuyahoga Falls- The Tigers are going to try and rebound from a 1 win season a year ago, but lose their top scoring threat from that group. Offensive efficiency must improve to start as the Tigers were unable to score at high levels, including being held to less than 40 points in 5 games a year ago. Don’t expect any different results in 2019-20.
Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit- The Warriors were the only team in the North Coast League to defeat Lake Catholic last season and shared a league title as a result. Walsh Jesuit returns their top scorer from a year ago in junior Erik Stern, however it will be difficult to compete with Lake Catholic again due to the level of talent they have coming back. For the Warriors, they will need to find a decent #2 scorer that can assist Stern when necessary.
Eastlake North- Not enough info
Ellet- Much like their Akron City Series rival Akron East, the Orangemen from Ellet return a nice group of seniors, but lose 5 key performers from last season. Of the returning talent, Trevin Carter and Adonis Jordan will make up the workload in the backcourt while Brendan Eaton will be the interior threat. Ellet found success during the middle of the season but was unable to use much to finish their run in league play. Expect the Orangemen to hover near the middle of the Federal League this season.
Elyria- The Pioneers had some youth on their roster last season with a plethora of sophomores on roster. As a result, Elyria hit stretchs of struggle including losing 5 of their last 6 to end the year. 2 All-District performers are gone, but leading scorer Marsaun Robinson is back and will lead the Pioneers out of the backcourt. Also watch senior Aiden Carter and junior Jahkai Owens this season. Elyria is going to be better with plenty of juniors now returning but will they be ready to take the next step on the ladder in the GCC?
Euclid- Last year was a magical year for the Panthers as they reached the Regional Semifinals before falling to a very good St. Edward team 77-71. Don’t expect another deep postseason run this season as Euclid is losing a lot of their talent. All 5 leading scorers from last season have graduated or departed as senior Garvin Clarke transferred to Cleveland Heights in the offseason. Scoring is going to be an issue and with programs like Mentor and Shaker Heights returning quite a bit of their talent, staying competitive may be difficult.
Firestone- The Falcons lose 4 seniors from last season and return a solid group in the class of 2020. That being said, this Firestone team really struggled in the Akron City Series and found themselves only scoring 60+ points in 2 games. They will look to seniors Jayson Brooks and Zaire Singleton to be the leadership and give the scoring help they need. Offense will have to improve, especially in league play otherwise expect another down year for Firestone.
Garfield- The G-Men did not have a horrible season, but will definitely want to improve off of their 7-15 season. They return a nice group of seniors, led by Austin Peterson. Keep an eye on sophomore Kaidan Spade as he will be a guy to help accompany Peterson on the offensive end. The G-Men have some size coming back that will help them greatly, but it could be a rough year with some of the talent coming back from other schools.
Garfield Heights- The Bulldogs struggled at times last season finishing a few games above .500. Leading scorer Meechie Johnson tore his ACL last season and will be sitting out this season and then transferring to ISA. Coming back however is Sonny Johnson Jr. who has a chance to be one of the top players in Northeast Ohio as he continues to grow. Seniors Brent Darby Jr, Jesse Laster, and Gilbert Davis are all back and all over 6’3 giving the Bulldogs some size. As an independent, Garfield tends to play a brutal schedule during the season, but it prepares them for March. We expect losing Meechie will be tough, but this Bulldogs team can still be competitive.
Hudson – The Explorers have a nice group of guys returning for the 2019-20 season, but we aren’t sure if they are at the level to compete for a Suburban League title. 6’6 senior Jack Burdett is going to be a fun player to watch and should impress us early on. Fellow senior Damari Ganaway will also be back and will run the show from the perimeter. Although I do not think this is a division title caliber team, Hudson still could be a competitor in the Suburban League.
John Adams- The Rebels return a nice core of seniors from a year ago that should spark this John Adams team as they look to improve in 2019-20. It starts in the backcourt with 5’8 senior Ra’Sheen Smith who will have the responsibility and experience to be a leader. Johnny Cullins and Jurruan Harden bring size for Adams standing at 6’2 and 6’3. Experience shouldn’t be an issue, but I have concerns if the Rebels will be able to compete with some of the high level teams in NE Ohio in Division I.
John Marshall- Marshall loses some of their top scoring options from a year ago and will look for new talent to watch in 2019-20.
Kenston- The Bombers are in trouble as they lose their top 6 scorers from a team that struggled a year ago.
Kent Roosevelt- The Rough Riders are returning their top 2 scorers from last year, but that won’t help too much for a team that won 1 game in league play. While the returning guys are both seniors, a lack of support and overall competitiveness makes it difficult for us to see Roosevelt making much of a run in Northeast Ohio. Zac Common and Zach Holman are the guys to watch. If Roosevelt could get some younger guys to provid secondary support, a dead last finish would be less likely.
Lakeside- The Dragons lose their top 2 scoring options from last season, but return a plethora of talent in the senior class that will make them a team worth watching this season. The offense is run by guard Brandon Ford, a playmaker on both ends of the floor. He along with senior Ethan Colbert are the top returning scorers from last season. Also in this deep backcourt is another senior guard in Marquis West, an athletic backcourt presence that is one of the better rebounding threats for the Dragons. Even with the talent coming back, Lakeside will have to improve against conference foes, as they lost 8 league games with 7 of those losses coming by double digits.
Lakewood- The Rangers lose 4 of their top 5 from a year ago, including almost all of their size from last year. Their returning guy is 6’5 senior Nate Minns, but the big question will be if Lakewood can replace the departing height. Guard play also took a hit as several backcourt threats are now graduated as well. After a solid year last year that resulted in a runner-up finish in the Southwestern Conference, repeating is going to be much tougher to do.
Lakewood St. Edward- The Eagles are returning 3 of their top 4 scorers from last season and are the early favorites to contend with Moeller in Division I next season. The backcourt is loaded with seniors Montorie Foster and Grant Huffman returning as they may be the best backcourt in Northeast Ohio. Add senior Devantae Blanton as well to the mix and you have a very solid trio capable of taking over games. With a nice support group as well and solid coaching, St. Ed’s is easily one of the favorites to come out of Northeast Ohio in Division I.
Lincoln-West- The Wolverines struggled a ton last season on both ends of the floor. 2 of the top 3 player from last season are back in juniors Rashon Pique and Adrian Edwards. Both will be leaned on heavily, especially on the offensive end as the Wolverines try and improve after scoring 50+ points in only 6 games last year. The 2 juniors will be nice pieces to build around.
Lorain- The Titans were undefeated in the Lake Erie League a year ago, lost only once during the regular season to St. Vincent-St. Mary, but fell in the District Finals to Olmsted Falls. The Titans are losing their top 2 scorers but return a solid group of seniors in Deonte Benejan, Jordan Jackson, and Aaron Whitehead. In addition, Lorain adds a high level transfer in junior Seth Wilson who comes over from St. V. If Wilson can mold well with the returning talent, we could see Lorain really take off again this season. Don’t expect another undefeated league season, but Lorain has the experience to turn some heads in 2019-20.
Madison- Not enough info
Maple Heights- The Mustangs are losing quite a bit of talent from a team that frankly struggled in the Lake Erie League in 2018-19. Playing against high level teams in league play, Maple Heights allowed 64 points per game last season and finished 9-15 on the year. Their top scoring threat junior Davon Smith-Johnson is back and will have help from senior Larry Reynolds, but the Mustangs will have to find a way to compete with the likes of Lutheran East, Cleveland Heights, and Lorain who appear to be just as good as they were last year. Defense has to improve.
Massillon Jackson- 5 seniors are gone, including 2 All-District performers for a Polar Bears team that finished as Federal League champions and District Runner-Ups last season. Of the returning talent, senior Trent Jones will be the top guy back and will have the pressure of being the go-to guy They will be getting a new name however in 6’5 sophomore Hunter Geissinger who transfers over from St. Thomas Aquinas.The Polar Bears played a tough schedule last season, including a trip to Florida for the holidays and had single digit losses against Mentor and Cleveland Heights. The Polar Bears always find ways to compete and will rely on their returning seniors including Jones and Jake Byers to replace the departed talent.
Massillon Perry – The Panthers finished above .500, but struggled in the Federal League, winning only 4 games. When looking at this team, they return their top guy in senior Jagger Haynes who will compete for All-League honors come March. Perry will need to find another scorer to compliment Haynes if they are going to get through the very tough Federal League.
Massillon Washington- The Tigers lose 5 of their top 6 players from last season’s team that was well below .500 for the year. Of the returning talent, 6’3 junior Jayden Ballard is the new go-to guy and should account for the majority of the scoring. Finding additional scoring options will be crucial as Washington averaged only 55 points per game a year ago.
Mayfield- Plenty of talent is back for Mayfield as they look to become a more competitive team and they will do this with a plethora of seniors. Michael Favazzo and Denzell Seawood are the top guys back and will be heavily leaned on. The biggest issue will be can Mayfield defend bigger opponents like Hugley from Brush?
Medina – The Battling Bees finished 2018-19 strong, winning 9 of their last 10 games before falling to St. Edward in the tournament. The good news is Medina returns their top 4 guys from last season, including senior and leading scorer Kyle Szumski and junior Corey Tripp. Depth, size, and experience will be no issue as the Bees only lose 3 seniors from last season, but will need to find some better success in the GCC, as they finished 3-5 against teams that finished higher than them. Already showing they can defeat the likes of Mentor and Shaker Heights, Medina is a dark horse in the GCC race and could be a team worth watching come March.
Medina Highland- The Hornets return their leading scorer from last year in senior Bryce Profitt, but they lose their next 4 best guys leaving quite a void for Highland to try and stay in the top of the Suburban League. Senior Jake Osborne will have to step up in a big way, and the Hornets will have to find some returning guys to step up as well as depth appears to be the biggest issue as will be secondary scoring.
Mentor – The Cardinals were one of the top teams in Division I last season and unfortunately fell to Uniontown Green 77-60 in the Regional Semifinals, ending their season quite early. Before the loss, Mentor had only lost 2 games in the regular season…by 5 total points. This Mentor returns their backcourt of Luke Chicone and Luke Floriea which will arguably be one of the best backcourts in Northeast Ohio. Senior Chad Rogers will give Mentor some interior presence and rebounding threat using his 6’4 stature. With the talent coming back, Mentor will have a chance to again compete in Division I and will be a team to watch.
Midview- Experience is going to be an issue for the Middies as they return 3 key contributors from last season. Senior Jonny Manning is back and will be a threat for Southwestern Conference player of the year. At 6’6 there is not a ton of players that can match up with him due to his versatility. Guards Marcell Young and Nyco Vidal are also back and were contributing scorers a year ago. The Middies are a solid defensive group and actually allowed more than 60+ points on very few occasions. 2019-20 could be a special year, especially if Manning can go off.
Nordonia- The Knights lose 5 of their top 6 scoring options from a year ago and will be in trouble with such a lack of scoring. Junior Joel Jones is back and is now the go-to guy, but he is not at a level to outplay Brecksville or North Royalton who appear to be the top teams in the league this year.
Normandy- After an up-and-down season, the Invaders found their rhythm late in the season, winning 5 of their last 6 games including knocking off Holy Name in the process. Now Normandy must build around 6’6 junior Stefan Stanic who is a solid building block for the program. Finding additional pieces to compliment him will play a major role in how far Normandy can go this season.
North Canton Hoover- The Vikings were struck with horrible news this offseason, as sophomore sensation Sencire Harris announced his intent to transfer to St. Vincent-St. Mary. The move hurts Hoover’s look for next season, but is the only player they lost as they return all other starters, including senior Jonah McCartney. This was a team that showed they could compete with wins against Green and GlenOak, and a 5 point loss against Massillon Jackson. With Harris back they would have likely been one of the top teams in the Federal League this season. With the talent returning, this will still be a very good team, but will need one of their returning guys to step up to fill Harris’ 20 points per game departing.
North Olmsted- The Eagles just weren’t very good a year ago. While they were a senior laden team, 2 wins were all North Olmsted could muster in 2019 and unfortunately, 2020 doesn’t look much better. Only 1 key contributor is back in senior Jared Strong and with little experience or talent around him, another down year is expected for the Eagles as they try and improve.
North Ridgeville- The Rangers are losing 2 All-Conference players from a year ago and just don’t have the core group to compete with the rest of the Southwestern Conference. Senior Cole Payne is back but was not a high scoring option for North Ridgeville. Expect a finish near the bottom of the conference in 2019-20.
North Royalton – The Bears will be returning 2 of their top 3 guys from a year ago, but also lose much of their supporting cast around them. Junior point guard Omar Abuhamdeh has emerged as the Bears top outside precense while 6’4 senior Jordan Garland will be the interior threat. We think these two are enough to lead North Royalton to a top 3 finish in the Suburban League, but they must have other options if they are going to compete with Brecksville for a league title.
Olmsted Falls- The Bulldogs celebrated a magical season last year, finishing with 20+ wins and winning the Southwestern Conference. Repeating in 2019-20 is going to be fairly difficult. For starters, 5 All-Conference performers have now graduated and as a result, much of the experience and talent is gone too. Junior post player Kevin Eiseman is back and will alleviate some of the loss, as will the return of senior guard Drew Sagerman. That being said however, Olmsted Falls is still not in a position to be a contender in 2019 again.
Padua Franciscan- The Bruins return their top 3 scorers from a team that was 10-13 and struggled in the NCL. Padua has scoring weapons all over the floor starting in 6’4 junior Dan Peterson and 6’1 junior David Rice. Another guy worth watching is sophomore guard Akinlana Popoola who was 2nd on the team in scoring last season. We expect Franciscan to be much improved this upcoming season, however they are not at a level ready to give Lake Catholic a challenge in the North Coast League.
Painesville Harvey- The Red Devils return one of the better sophomores in NE Ohio in 6’3 Roderick Coffee. Combine him with senior Bishop Thomas and you have a nice duo to compete in the CVC. 6 seniors are graduated from a year ago and the pressure will be on Coffee and Thomas to lead. Bench support will be a concern.
Parma- The Redmen were competitive last year with several of their losses coming by single digits. They return their top 2 scorers in juniors Makail Cottingham and Allan Eason who will be leaned on again this season. Questions remain with whether Parma can finish games and turn some of these close losses into W’s. The Redmen may be a year away with their key guys being juniors this season and could challenge in the GLC next year.
Rhodes – The Rams have plenty of guys back from last season’s 3rd place finish in the Senate League. It starts with junior Amarion Dickerson who gives them athleticism on the wing. Also returning are seniors Marlon Landingham and Deangelo Williams who were the top 2 scorers on last season’s team. Also returning is sophomore Jamal Sumlin. The major question for the Rams is who steps up after these 4 guys. If they can find depth and secondary scoring options, this Rhodes team could see themselves competing for a Senate League title in 2019-20.
Riverside- Not enough info
Shaker Heights- The Red Raiders finished with a 13-9 season in which they played many of the top teams in Northeast Ohio. Now they are back and return 4 of their top 5 guys and could be one of the best teams not only in the GCC but in Northeast Ohio. Senior backcourt of Shammah Scott and Dakota Cochran and sophomore Danny Young Jr. may be good enough to hang with Mentor’s electric backcourt. With a solid group of juniors and sophomores up in the program, the Red Raiders will again be competitive in the GCC and could be a threat in the District tournament again.
Solon- The Comets are losing 3 All-District players from last season’s District Finalist in Northeast Ohio. Junior Marcus Steele is the top guy back but has large shoes to fill at Solon. Two years removed from a State Runner-Up finish, this season may be a bit of a rebuild for Solon as they reload their roster and prepare for another run in the GCC.
St. Ignatius- Iggy loses their top 2 scorers from a team that was very good last year, beating Lutheran East, St. Edward, and Cleveland Heights during the season. While they lose some key guys, the Wildcats are also returning plenty of talent to keep them relevant. The backcourt will be led by senior Chase Toppin and sophomore Jonathan Effertz. Inside will be held down by 6’7 junior Henry Raynor. Ignatius will need to find additional guys on the offensive end as there will need to be secondary scoring options in place.
Stow-Munroe Falls- The Bulldogs were 12-11 on the year last season, but they lose 6 seniors from that team and now look to build around the remaining pieces. Most of the scoring came from the departed talent, which will make things difficult to compete. Sophomore Owen Bainbridge is the top returning scorer, but must become a consistent scorer to replace Evan Bainbridge and his high scoring capabilities. If the core group returning can mesh well together and overall become a better unit, this could be a decent year for the Bulldogs.
Strongsville- Struggling was an understatement for the Mustangs last season as they won only 1 game and lost 4 of their top 5 guys from that team. In their defense however, 8 of their guys were freshmen or sophomores last year. Now with a year of experience under their belt, they will have a chance to grow more, but the Mustangs still do not have the offensive firepower to hang with the top teams in the GCC. Sophomore Michael Lipowski is back and will be the top returning scorer. Expect another down year for Mustangs fans.
Twinsburg- A nice group of seniors returning will allow the Tigers to stay near the top of the Suburban League, but we aren’t sure if this group coming back can be a deep postseason threat as they lose 3 of their top 5 scorers from a year ago. Looking at the returning guys, Twinsburg has a solid 1-2 punch in Ken McElrath and Ethan Golnick who both return as the leading returning scorers from last year. I like the experience and the fact the Tigers allowed 50 points per game a year ago. Competing with Brecksville and North Royalton will be tough, but the amount of upperclassmen on the roster is a good thing for Twinsburg and should be watched this year.
Uniontown Green- The Bulldogs were exceptional last year, finishing 22-4 and runner-up in the Federal League. More importantly, Green was the Regional runner-ups as well as they won double digit matchups with Massillon Jackson and Mentor in the tournament before ultimately falling to Lakewood St. Edward in the Regional Finals 71-53. The scary thing is Green only loses one player from that team. Donovan O’Neil and Garrison Keeslar give the Bulldogs some height and now postseason experience that will again help them. With the talent returning, it is very possible Green could find themselves back in the Regionals, however we do not expect them to get past St. Edward if last season’s matchups repeat themselves. Still a very dangerous team.
Uniontown Lake- The Blue Streaks finished above .500 last season, but ultimately lose 2 All-District performers including their top scorer from a year ago. With the Federal League being tough, Lake will need to find new scoring threats quickly if they are going to be competitive in the League.
University School- The Preppers were a competitive team a year ago, finishing 12-10 with many of their losses coming by single digits. A plethora of juniors from last season are back and will give University some experience. Leading scorer Faris Dahman is back as is interior threat Ricky Radtke. Also worth watching is 6’3 junior Asaan Snipes-Rea in the guard slot. With the amount of juniors on roster, we expect the Preppers to find themselves making a nice postseason run in the next year or two.
Valley Forge- The Patriots would like to forget their last season after going winless in the GLC and winning 2 games during the year. What is worse is they only return 1 of their top 7 scorers from last season’s team that struggled to not only put the ball in the basket, but allowed over 70 points per game, including 90+ in 3 games. Logan Sasse is back and provides some offensive background and senior leadership, but without much support, expect another down year for Valley Forge as they try to rebuild in the conference.
Wadsworth- The Grizzlies got hit hard by graduation. Losing their top 5 scorers from last year, Wadsworth is going to have a very hard time competing with the rest of the Suburban League without scoring experience. Keep an eye on senior Chris Callahan as he will be the guy to step up into a leadership role.
Warren G. Harding- The Raiders lost do-it-all Dom McGhee after last season’s 12-11 finish. There is some talent returning however that make me feel this Harding team could be one of the better teams in the AAC this upcoming season. Senior D’Muntize Owens is back and is without a doubt the Raiders top scoring option after averaging 17 points per game a year ago. He will likely push those numbers closer to 19-20 points per game and will be the go-to scorer. On the interior, watch junior Jabari Felton as he returns as the team’s best rebounder a year ago. A football player, Felton is not a high scorer but will use his physicality to anchor the interior for Harding. Last season, this Harding team played teams like Brush and Garfield Heights, with the Raiders winning against Garfield. We expect Harding to finish behind Boardman in the AAC Red, but they are worth watching down the road.
Westlake- The Demons lose quite a bit of talent from one year ago, with 3 All-Conference players now graduating. 2 juniors will be leaned on in Justin Garcia and Dylan Bednar as the Demons look to rebound after a .500 finish in the Southwestern Conference a year ago. They must find a way to be more competitive against some of the higher level teams in the conference as they fell in double digits too many times last year.
Willoughby South- Not enough info
Wooster- The Generals lose 3 of their top 4 from last season. Senior Ezra McKee is the best player returning.
Big Walnut- The Eagles were 15-9 last season and found some success in the OCC Buckeye Division. Leading scorer 6’4 senior Kegan Hienton is back, but the next 4 scorers from last season are now gone. As a result, I have concerns on where the rest of the offense will come from when Hienton is off or defended tough. In addition, the Eagles return junior Jagger Barnett and 6’3 senior Jackson Podraza so the cabinet is not completely bare. Keep an eye on junior Jared Kreager as he could be a key role guy in 2019.
Briggs- Bruins fans are optimistic for the upcoming season as Briggs returns 6 of their top 7 guys from a year ago. Leading scorer Javion Williams returns as a junior and will be the go-to guy early on. A trio of seniors will also provide support in Domenic Farley, Andrew Grubbs, and Jacob Cash. Defense will have to improve as Briggs gave up 60+ points in 10 of their 23 games last season. The Bruins got hot late in the year winning 4 of their last 5 before falling to Pickerington North in the sectionals. If they can find that momentum from an early point in the season, they could challenge in the middle tier of the CCL South.
Canal Winchester- The Indians looked like a solid team a year ago, finishing 20-5 and making a run all the way to the District Semifinals. 2019 could be a repeat year as they return 4 of their top 5 scorers from last season. It starts with senior Bilal Sow and his 18 points per game. Alongside fellow senior Cole Metzler, the Indians have a team capable of challenging Newark in the Capital Division. The Indians have several additional seniors that surround Sow and Metzler and will allow Canal Winchester to continue to be one of the better teams in Central Ohio in Division I and we could see another 20 win season potentially.
Central Crossing- The Comets may have finished with a 8-15 record, but with several of their losses being close, they could have easily been closer to a .500 finish. A very strong senior class this year could give the Comets the edge they need to be more competitive in the OCC Cardinal. Leading scorer Anthony Lowe is back and is accompanied by another guard in Logan Green. Central Crossing has some size in 6’4 seniors Tyler Ronevich and Devon Miller but neither were elite scorers. For now, we are going to expect a better record than 8-15, but there will still be struggles.
Columbus South- Last season’s Division II State Runner Up will now face a new challenge as the Bulldogs move to Division I in 2019-20. Believe or not, South still has the talent to be a competitor in D1 and could even turn some heads if they are able to get the job done. The Bulldogs bring back a plethora of talent from their runner-up team, especially in the 2020 class. Guys like Marcus Johnson, Taquan Simington, and Trevell Adams will return with experience and athleticism that will allow South to hang with some of the bigger teams in D1. Senior Sam Barton is a name to watch as he is an enforcer in the paint. When comparing South and Walnut Ridge, Walnut Ridge has arguably the better talent while South definitely has a little more depth and more variety on the offensive end. I think the two teams will split their regular season meetings with South ultimately defending their CCL South title.
Columbus West – The Cowboys are losing some talent from their roster a year ago. The top 3 scorers have all graduated and the returning talent is limited. Senior Abdi Gelle will be the top guy back and will look to build off his 10 points per game average last year. Also returning is guard Sidi Aden who will provide support in the backcourt. Depth will be an issue early on and new guys will need to adjust quickly if West is to move up in the CCL South. I expect improvement, but still in the bottom half of the league.
Delaware Hayes- Although 2 of the top 6 scorers are gone from a year ago, Hayes has a solid group of seniors returning that should allow Hayes to be a top 3 team in the OCC Cardinal Division. Returning leading scorer Nate Griggs is back and brings his 15 points per average back. Accompanying Griggs in the backcourt is fellow senior Addison Harvey and junior Ryan Smudz. When it comes to frontcourt guys, Hayes has a bruiser in 6’6 senior Paul Burris. One of the biggest concerns will be bench support as the Pacers don’t have a ton of experience on their bench. They will need to show improvement against Bradley and Thomas Worthington, as the Pacers finished 1-3 against these teams last year.
Dublin Coffman- Last season’s Coffman team was one of the top teams in Central Ohio with their 22-2 record and used a large plethora of seniors. Now, much of that talent has graduated, including senior Dom Penn who transferred out of the program over the summer. Senior guard Keaton Turner who backed up Penn at the point guard spot is back and will now have control of the offense. In 2019, it is going to be difficult for the Rocks to defend their title. Much of their size is gone as is much of their experience. Coffman will need additional guys to step up if they are going to be a competitor this year.
Dublin Jerome- The Keltics didn’t have a bad year last season as they finished 14-9 and put together an 11-3 OCC Cardinal record. Unfortunately, this season is going to be extremely difficult to replicate. Jerome loses almost their entire lineup from last season with much of their scoring output and size going away. Senior Dan Lee was the 2nd leading scorer a year ago but with very little supporting cast, it will be difficult for the Keltics to replicate their previous success. With inexperience being the most obvious issue, I expect Jerome to be a bottom dweller in the Cardinal division.
Dublin Scioto- The Fighting Irish lose their 3 leading scorers from a year ago and now look to regroup. Of the returning talent, Jayden Prince and Ben Lombardo will be the guys looked to in the backcourt. This group plays solid defense, only allowing 60+ points in 6 games this past season. The issue however will be lack of size and lacking a primary consistent scorer. Only 1 player is taller than 6’2 and Prince led all returning guys with 8 points per game. The Irish are not in a position to be challenging Bradley or Thomas Worthington, but bring back enough to jump Jerome and could crack the top 4 in the OCC Cardinal if they are able to hold off the other bottom dwellers.
Franklin Heights- If you had asked Falcons fans if they would have expected a 2 win season in December 2018, most would not have thought anything of it. After a 2-3 start to the season, Franklin Heights rattled off 18 straight losses and finished winless in the OCC Buckeye Division. They bring back talent, but not enough to be more competitive this season. Senior TalonDre Barker is the top returning scorer and averaged 9 points per game last year. Fellow senior Mo Fofana is also back to bring assistance in the backcourt, as it sophomore Artell Saunders. Competitiveness has to improve if the Falcons are going to dig themselves out of the basement of the Capital Division. We expect another down year.
Gahanna Lincoln- Sophomore Sean Jones has emerged as the next big time player out of Columbus and he will likely continue this into 2019. The top returning scorer for the Lions, he makes everyone around him better and made his presence known last season as a freshman. He will have senior Nate Staib accompanying him in the backcourt. The Lions have some size coming back as well including 6’4 senior Jaiden Davis, 6’5 junior Jarious Jones, and 6’5 junior Maceo Williams. Gahanna struggled to get the job done last year against the Pickerington schools and will need to find a way to get past either if they are going to advance far in the postseason.
Grove City- The Greyhounds struggled after MLK weekend last year, finishing 3-7 and ultimately dropping to a 10-14 record overall. 2019 will be a very tough year as the OCC Ohio division is extremely tough and loaded with talent. Luckily, they return 3 of their top 5 scorers that combined for over 30 points per game that will try and compete with some of the talent they could face. Brock Waits and Cole Crager return after averaging over 10 points per game a year ago. Junior Alex Coffey also returns and will provide a formidable backcourt, however the Greyhounds lack height to compete with the Pickerington schools in the division.
Groveport-Madison- The Cruisers had a solid record a year ago, finishing 14-10 and 5-5 in the OCC Buckeye Division. Losing 3 of their top 7 scorers from a year ago is rough, but some of the talent coming back is still a reason to be content in Groveport. Senior Elijah Monroe is the top guy back and will have a nice balance of personnel around him. Juniors Terrence Key and Scotty Lomax should improve vastly from a year ago and support in the backcourt. In the frontcourt, 6’2 senior Devin Singleton and 6’5 junior Elijah Hawk are back and should be the top guys battling in the paint. With multiple sophomores on their roster a year ago, it should be considered a major victory for the Crusiers that they finished above .500. Now with more experience and depth in the backcourt, Groveport may have a chance of being the dark horse in the Capital Division.
Hilliard Bradley – The Jaguars learned that it is difficult to defeat the same team 3 times in the same season. After defeating Thomas Worthington twice in the regular season, TW got their revenge in the District Semifinals knocking out the powerhouse Jags 46-41. 2019 should be another great year for Bradley as they return their top 5 guys from a year ago. The backcourt is led by senior Matt Allocco who is arguably one of the best point guards in Ohio. Juniors A.J. Mirgon and Keaton Norris provide support in the backcourt. The frontcourt is scary good as well as they are led by 6’3 Michigan State football commit Chris Mayfield and 6’6 senior Jack Pugh. Defense is where the Jaguars make their presence known as they allowed 50+ points only twice during the season. Pugh missed most of the season last year due to injury. If he can stay healthy this season and be a force on the glass with Mayfield, this Jaguar team is good enough to be a Regional team and could potentially come out of Central Ohio in Division I this year.
Hilliard Darby- 3 of the top 4 players from last season are back for Darby, including leading scorer Andrew Patrick. Darby struggled in the OCC a year ago finishing 3-11 and really struggled against some of the better teams in the Cardinal division. 2019 will need to be improved for the Panthers as they need to be more competitive against fellow OCC teams. With several of the lower tiered teams in the division last year losing much of their talent, Darby will have a chance to move up the ranks. However, their talent is not ready to compete with the likes of Bradley and Thomas Worthington.
Hilliard Davidson- Last season’s Davidson squad was so dominate and were arguably one of the top teams in Central Ohio as they knocked off Olentangy Liberty and Hilliard Bradley during the season. It is going to be extremely difficult for the Wildcats to replicate their success as they only return 2 players from last season’s roster which was mostly senior led. Of the returning talent, senior Gage Keys is without a doubt their best player. A two-sport stud that brings physicality to the game, he will need a supporting cast around him If he is going to get the Wildcats where they need to be to compete. Sophomore Ryan Paris will be a name to watch, however we think the Wildcats will not be a dominate team again in 2019 without experience.
Independence- The 76ers struggled against CCL competition a year ago and we expect another struggling season as they look to improve off their 6-17 record a year ago. 2 of the top 3 scorers are gone from last season and leaves behind a group looking to improve. Senior Andre Trent is the leading scorer from a year ago and will be joined in the backcourt by junior Keshawn Harris. After these two, there will be concerns of who can step up and provide additional support for the 76ers.
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Lancaster- 6 of the top 7 players from a year ago are back for the Golden Gales as they try to move on from their 5-18 finish a year ago. The scoring is spread out between the returning guys ranging from 4 to 9 points. Senior Brain Shopp is the leading scorer back and will be leaned on most. Lancaster needs to find bench players to provide support. However, with the amount of talent that calls the OCC Ohio home.
Licking Heights- 2019-20 could be a rebuilding year for the Hornets as they lose quite a bit of talent. Leading scorer Markeece Brown is back and will be leaned heavily on for offensive efficiency. Heights took a loss when their star Tyrese Hughey transferred to Thomas Worthington this summer. In order to compete, they will need to find another secondary weapon to assist Brown.
Marion Harding – The Presidents struggled a lot last year not just in the MOAC but against Division I teams they faced during the year. Mitch Myers and Jacob Malone are back for their senior years and should be the leaders for this team. For Harding to improve, they will need to find a way to become a more competitive team on the offensive end, especially against the D1 teams they will face prior to the tournament.
Marysville- Last season the Monarchs fell short against much of their competition they faced in the OCC Central Division. They lose 2 of their top 3 scorers but return quite a bit of talent with varsity experience that should help make up for these losses. Jack Christian is the top guy coming back and will be the player to watch. The Monarchs have some size coming back as well in 6’6 senior Trenton Siefring and 6’7 junior Garrett Taylor. This will allow the Marysville to control the glass and give them a chance of moving up the ranks. Their experience will help keep them competitive, but we need to see continued improvement if the Monarchs are going to move up the ranks in the OCC.
Mifflin- When you look at this Mifflin team and what they return from last season’s 7-16 team, it is hard to see them being a contender in the City League. Although a top scoring team in the CCL North a year ago, they lose their leading scorer, which is part of 3 of their top 7 top players that have departed. Although there is some talent coming back, including junior guard and top returning scorer Mekhi Jarrett as well as Jakai Watts, we do not expect to see the Punchers knocking out any of the high profile teams in the North. They have some size coming back that could allow Mifflin to be a force on the glass, but unless they can do that consistently I don’t expect much improvement from their 7 win season last year.
Mount Vernon- The Yellow Jackets were a guard oriented team last season and will look for new faces as they graduate much of their talent from the year prior. Senior Cole Fisher is the top returning guard and will be tasked with being the perimeter scorer. 6’2 senior Evan Boatwright and 6’3 senior Spencer Mills are the tallest players back and will be tasked with being the interior presence for the Jackets.
New Albany- Eagles fans will look for a better season in 2019 as New Albany loses 1 player that appeared in more than 10 games a year ago. All 3 of the top scorers are back in seniors Jayden Lewis and Dillon Masters and junior Keegan Schaub. The offense is going to be the area most concerning as the Eagles scored 60+ points in only 4 games. In addition, most of the scoring came from the backcourt which makes us question what size the Eagles will have. New Albany does have a big man in Udai Singh and his 6’6 frame, but will he be able to make New Albany a force in the paint and what additional size will help? New Albany should improve from their 8 win season, but I don’t think this team is ready to challenge Newark and Canal Winchester in the Capital Division this year.
Newark – Last season’s Regional Semifinal appearance was great for the Wildcats and 2019 could be another great year. Although losing their inside presence Keshawn Heard, Newark is returning a nice amount of talent from their 20-7 team a year ago. It starts with their seniors 6’0 Bobby Crenshaw and 6’3 Jaden Woods as they give the Wildcats solid offensive threats. The junior class also has some talent in guards Kade Bafford and Drew Ballinger. I am concerned with whether Newark will be able to replace Heard with another low post threat in the paint. If they can find that guy as well as continue to be a force on the defensive ened of the floor, the Wildcats have a solid chance of repeating in the Capital division.
Northland- The Vikings lost their leading scorer, but return their next 4 from a team that finished 15-7 in the Columbus City League. Although their leading scorer is gone, they return junior Makhale Massey who has emerged as one of the better scorers for Northland and could contend for all-league honors. Robert Dorsey and Devan White also return and will give Massey other options on the offensive end. I expect the Vikings to be a top 3 team in the CCL North and could go as far as Massey is able to take them.
Olentangy- The Braves had a solid team a year ago, finishing 14-10 and making a run to the District Semifinal. Unfortunately, the top 4 scorers, including star guard Sean Marks have graduated and means new faces will need to step up for Olentangy in 2019. The Braves return multiple guards but no one that averaged more than 7 points per game a year ago. Senior Austin Brown and junior Tavian James will be the guys to watch closely and should help fill the void. Olentangy will need one of their guys to try and fill Marks’ shoes, but more importantly, Olentangy will need to protect the glass if they are going to compete in the OCC Buckeye. With mostly guards, that could pose an issue. However, I expect the Braves to finish in the middle of the division in 2019.
Olentangy Berlin- After having 0 seniors on their roster a year ago, the Berlin Bears now bring back a ton of guys from their 3-20 that will be hungry to improve off their 3 wins and win a game in the conference next year. Lots of the talent is in the backcourt with a few guys giving the Bears some size. Juniors Austin Corely and Jacob Moeller will be looked upon as well as senior Grant Schreiber. With a year under their belt, we expect Berlin to look like a much better team in 2019, however they still are not in a position yet to be contenders and will need to find their go-to guy in 2019. The Bears will be moving up to Division I this season after competing in the Division II tournament last year.
Olentangy Liberty- If it weren’t for a loss to Olentangy Orange in January, the Patriots would have been undefeated in the OCC Buckeye Division. Instead they finished 9-1 in conference play and ran all the way to the State Semifinals before falling to Akron SVSM. 2019 is going to be difficult as they lose so much talent from the year prior, including star Ben Roderick. Of the returning pieces, junior Henry Hinkle will be the top guy back. Senior Kal Jayaraman is also back, but only averaged 4 points per game a year ago. Lack of depth will be an issue as well as how well their offense will run with so much talent gone.
Olentangy Orange- The Pioneers definitely looked great last season finishing 17-8 and finding some success in the postseason, reaching the District Finals. This season may be tough to match as they lose some key pieces on the offensive end. Junior Andre Irvin Jr. is the top returning scorer and will be a focal point in the Orange offense. Throw in seniors Ryan Cutler and Darius Butler and you have some pieces back to help guide the Pioneers. My biggest question will be can the Pioneers continue their offensive efficiency in 2019? Orange scored 65+ points in 18 of their 25 games, but with the leading scorers gone it could be a challenge. I am expecting a top 3 finish in the OCC Buckeye.
Pickerington Central- In the past when we have talked about the Tigers, we always talk about the incredible amount of talent they have on their roster. Last season, the Tigers finished 25-2 but couldn’t get to Columbus falling in the Regional Semifinals to Olentangy Liberty. 2019 will be a different look as Pick Central is losing a lot of talent from that team. Junior Garner Wallace is the top guy back and played exceptionally well throughout the season and returns as the team’s leading scorer from a year ago. He will have a few additional weapons in senior guards Tahleik Walker and Connor Maciag. In addition, junior Zakai Alexander will help relieve some of the loss as he is a difference maker on both ends of the floor. Primary scoring will be an early issue for the Tigers, as their top 5 departing players from last season provided 59 points per game for the Tigers. In addition, interior play will be an early concern, but 6’6 junior Elhadji Thiam will try and help put that issue to rest. Defense is where the Tigers make their mark and if they can continue to be a competitor and create chaos we expect another successful season for Pick Central.
Pickerington North- The Panthers put together a 23-5 record last year and made a run to the Regional Finals before falling to Olentangy Liberty 64-58. Guess what? The Panthers are back and bring back multiple pieces from their team. It starts with 6’5 Ohio State football commit Jack Sawyer, who is a double-double machine and is so hard to defend due to his pure size and athleticism. The senior leadership will come from 6’4 wing Hunter Shedenhelm and 6’4 athlete Chris Scott. The backcourt is just as loaded as juniors Casey George and Idris Lawrence are back, as is sophomore guard Dior Connors who should see an increased role. The Panthers have defense, size, guard play, and scorers. Early on they are my favorite to win in the OCC Ohio Division, and are the early favorites as well to come out of Columbus area in the Regionals.
Reynoldsburg- Last season was a successful season for the Raiders as they finished 20-6 and made a run to the District Finals before falling for the 3rd time to Pickerington Central 50-49. Although Reynoldsburg loses 3 of their top 6 from that team, they still have some talent back to keep them relevant in the OCC Ohio division. The backcourt is quite solid with senior Nick Wallace and junior Josiah Mobley both back and experienced guards. Throw in 6’4 senior Sean Moore who was last season’s leading scorer and you have a solid group to build around. The Raiders return several role guys from last season as well that should increase their roles and continue to make Reynoldsburg valid. Defense was a strongpoint a year ago as Reynoldsburg allowed 60+ points only twice. To take the next step, the Raiders will have to find a way to get past the Pickerington schools. Of their 6 losses, 5 were against Pickerington Central and Pickerington North. Both teams will be tough yet again this year and Reynoldsburg will have to use their defense to get past them both.
St. Charles- The Cardinals play in Division I come tournament time, but their matchups in the CCL help prepare them for these tough games. This season’s St. Charles team looks to be one of the top teams in the league in 2019. Leading scorer sophomore Jared Frey is back along with almost all of their personnel from a year ago. Frontcourt options Victor Searls and Gahanna Lincoln transfer Joshua Whiteside will give the Cardinals a solid inside presence, but we need to see the offense improve as St. Charles was last in team scoring a year ago. The addition of Whiteside and the fact they return so much talent makes me believe St. Charles will be a contender in the CCL in 2019.
Teays Valley- Vikings fans will miss a lot from a Teays Valley team that finished 11-3 in the MSL Buckeye division last year. Replicating that success is going to be quite difficult. Much of the scoring output from a year ago is gone with the top returning scorer being senior Riley Weiss and his 7 points per game. The Vikings were not a very deep team last season, sticking to a small core group of players. They will need to find bench support and secondary scoring options if they are going to repeat their MSL title.
Thomas Worthington- If last season’s run to the District Finals wasn’t enough to convince you that the Cardinals are a good team, then their summer acquisition should change your mind. Former Licking Valley athlete Tyrese Hughey has transferred to Thomas Worthington and now forms a formidable trio with fellow juniors Jalen Sullinger and Isaac Settles. The Cardinals have a real chance now of competing with Bradley for an OCC Cardinal title if Sullinger and Settles can mold well with Hughey. Athleticism will not be a problem and if anything should allow the Cardinals to have an edge over Bradley. We think Thomas Worthington could get back to the District Finals and even could make a push into the Regionals.
Upper Arlington- 3 of the top 4 scorers are gone for the Bears in 2019, and with the graduating players also goes 38 points per game. However, there is still a healthy plethora of talent coming back. 6’3 senior Jake Warinner is back and will be the focal point of the offense as he averaged 13 points per game last season. Fellow senior guard Fred Wilkes is also back. The Bears have some talent in 6’4 junior Kobe Buford and 6’2 sophomore Quinn Corna as well. Scoring should not be an issue but with some much size that graduated, I have concerns with how well of a rebounding team Upper Arlington will be in 2019. With a nice balance of personnel and one of the better defenses in the OCC Central division, we expect Upper Arlington has enough to jump Dublin Coffman and is the early favorite to win in the Central division.
Walnut Ridge- The Scots have a lot to be excited about in 2019-20 as expectations are high after a 19-5 finish and some serious talent coming back. The top 3 scorers from a year ago are all seniors and all returning. Guard Qian Magwood will run the point while 6’5 Kaveon Ross and VonCameron Davis will make an impact on the interior. The Scots were the only team in the CCL South to defeat Columbus South last season (66-56) and even lost a close game with them earlier on in the year (78-74). South will again be the team to beat, but I think Walnut Ridge has a very good chance of taking a league title this year. Defense will be the difference maker as Walnut Ridge allowed 60+ points in only 4 games a year ago.
Watkins Memorial- The Warriors found some success late in the season last year, winning 4 of their last 6 games in 2018-19. Unfortunately, only 2 of the top 7 guys from last season are back for Watkins Memorial, which will make things difficult for them to continue success. Seniors Marcus Peaks and Reece McNeely are those top players back. If the Warriors can find some support pieces, they could be a dark horse in the LVL.
Westerville Central- Central played several strong Central Ohio programs tough in 2018-19, falling short in many of them. There is optimism for 2019 as the Warhawks return a solid senior class that could give them a push in the OCC Buckeye. A balanced scoring offense led by 6’3 senior Tyler Beckel and 6’3 senior Will LeMaire, the Warhawks will depend on the these two to guide Westerville Central though what isn’t a super strong Buckeye division. We don’t think they are contenders per say since there is not a ton of collegiate talent on their roster, but with their intensity and style of play they could again make some great games between them and the powers of Columbus.
Westerville North- When a team finishes 13-11, there is not much to be upset about. For Warriors fans, 13-11 may be solid, but it could have been even better. North lost 5 games this season by 4 or less points. Speaking of losses, the top 2 scorers from last season are now graduated and bring 31 points per game with them. One of the biggest questions will be who replaces the scoring. The Warriors bring back several letterman from last season and senior Charles Perkins will be the name to watch. He will have a nice supporting cast with fellow senior Chace Perkins, sophomore Camden Ledford, and sophomore Noah Lawrence. North has some size and does have a little more depth than some of the other teams. I think Westerville North could compete for a OCC title, but if not, definitely a top 3 team in the OCC Buckeye.
Westerville South- The Wildcats lose plenty of talent from their 6-17 team a year ago, but will look to do a better job of finishing this season. Of their 17 losses, 10 were by single digits and the Wildcats lost 11 straight to end the season. The top 4 scorers are gone with their top player back being 5’10 junior Jaiden Guice from a year ago. The common theme early on in the OCC Buckeye is depth issues and inexperience. South will fall into this category as well and may find themselves struggling yet again in the OCC come November.
Westland- The Cougars did not have a great season last year as they finished 4-19 and went winless in the OCC Central Division. Luckily Westland loses only 3 seniors from the team and returns a nice variety of talent that will try and rebound off last season’s struggles. Kalil Camara is the top returning scorer after averaging 13 points per game. Seniors Eric Panning and Rece Evans are also back and will be names to watch. For Westland, 2 of the departing 3 players from last season were in the top 3 in scoring. The Cougars will need to ensure Camara can consistently give them 13 points and have the supporting cast step up. In addition, the defense has to improve as the Cougars allowed 80+ points 4 times last year, including 100+ twice.
Whetstone- The Braves would like to forget last season’s 4-19 finish where they lost several games in the CCL by single digits but also lose plenty of experience from that team. 3 of the top 7 scorers are gone, but return 6’6 senior Jaden Arledge who will be the focal point for Whetstone’s scoring. Junior guard Caleb Brigle is also back, but not much experience is back to support these guys. Whetstone showed they could hang with teams in the CCL North, especially loses to Mifflin, Columbus East, and Linden by 5 or less points. If the Braves can get support quickly and also continue to stay competitive, they should improve off their 4 win season. We however expect another struggling season.
Whitehall-Yearling- The Rams were not a very strong offensive team a season ago, finishing last in the MSL Ohio division in points per game. 4 of the top 6 scorers are back but none averaged more than 10 points per game. Of the returning players, 6’5 junior Royal Sibley will be the one worth watching. The Rams have several guards in the 2021 class as well to compliment Sibley, including K’ievon Wiggins and Dorsien Butler.
Worthington Kilbourne – The Wolves found some success late in the season last year, winning 5 of their last 8 including a nice win against Thomas Worthington. This season will be quite different as Kilbourne loses 4 of their top 7 from a year ago. 6’4 junior Ian Schupp is the top guy back and will be accompanied by senior Cayden Dougherty in the backcourt. The Wolves need to improve on the defensive end as they allowed 60+ points in 9 games this season. Although they are not dropping all the way through the rankings, Kilbourne is going to struggle in 2019 and may not improve by much of their 8 wins a year ago.