OHSAA Division I State Championship Contenders

This high school basketball season will be incredibly unique, but one thing remains the same, teams are going to be competing for a state championship. In this article I’m going to be looking at what teams are the top contenders for the Division I state championship. Archbishop Moeller: Moeller has long been waiting for this 2020-21 season, because of their dominant 2021 class. It’s still strong, but losing Will McCrackenWillMcCracken6'4" | SGHilton Head Island | 2021SC to an out of state transfer hurts. Logan DuncombLoganDuncomb6'9" | CMoeller | 2021State#74NationOH is a dominant post player and Alex WilliamsAlexWilliams6'5" | SFMoeller | 2021StateOH is one of the more productive wings in the state. Throw in high upside wings in Aidan NoyesAidanNoyes6'6" | SFMoeller | 2021StateOH and Evan MahaffeyEvanMahaffey6'6" | SFMoeller | 2022StateOH plus seniors Aidan TurnerAidanTurner6'0" | PGMoeller | 2021StateOH and Zachary GeorgeZacharyGeorge6'7" | CMoeller | 2021StateOH and the Crusaders are favorites to win another state title. Gahanna Lincoln: I expect Gahanna to be the top team in the Columbus area this season. Gahanna was very successful last season but bowed out in the district final to Walnut Ridge. Sean JonesSeanJones6'0" | PGGahanna | 2022State#169NationOH and company are back and ready to go this season. Combine Jones with seniors Jarius JonesJariusJones6'5" | SFGahanna | 2021StateOH and Maceo WilliamsMaceoWilliams6'6" | CGahanna | 2021StateOH and Gahanna has a trio that’s built to win. It’ll be interesting to see who else steps up at the guard position, and how much of a leap Javan SimmonsJavanSimmons6'7" | CGahanna | 2022StateOH takes during his Junior season. Despite these questions, I think Gahanna is the team to beat in central Ohio. Canton McKinley: Northeast Ohio has the next three teams on this list and all of them dove into the transfer market to add depth to already talented rosters. With Tae PerieTaePerie6'2" | PGCanton McKinley | 2021StateOH and Vernon SmithVernonSmith6'7" | CCanton McKinley | 2021StateOH joining the Bulldogs, McKinley has the depth to compete with anybody in the state. Kobe JohnsonKobeJohnson6'4" | SGCanton McKinley | 2021State#233NationOH can carry the Bulldogs himself, but with those transfers plus seniors Brent Walker and James McCollough, I like the Bulldogs chances in the Federal League. Cleveland Heights: EJ FarmerEJFarmer6'5" | SGCleveland Heights | 2021StateOH was returning with Davon Smith-Johnson but the Tigers were originally going to be relying on some fresh faces in 2020-21. After the uncertainty behind the Cleveland Senate league having a season, Jamal SumlinJamalSumlin6'2" | PGCleveland Heights | 2022StateOH, Keyshawn HallKeyshawnHall6'6" | PFCleveland Heights | 2021StateOH and Byron Ottrix all opted to rock the Yellow and Black this season. With these three pieces, I’m not sure there’s a team with more isolation talent in the state. The question on Cleveland Heights is how quickly they’ll be able to find on-court chemistry with so many new pieces on the roster. Mentor: The Cardinals were one game away from the final 4 last season, but after graduating a strong senior class it appeared like the Cardinals wouldn’t be at this level again. Then Jonah WaagJonahWaag6'2" | SGMentor | 2021StateOH and Steven KeyStevenKey5'11" | PGMentor | 2021StateOH both transferred in this off-season. Both play AAU basketball with Luke ChiconeLukeChicone5'9" | PGMentor | 2021StateOH, so their chemistry should be found rather quickly. Throw in returning pieces like Kyle CullerKyleCuller6'1" | SGMentor | 2021StateOH and some more unknown names like Sean Collins looking to play bigger roles this season. Thomas Worthington: Worthington has a nice duo committed to division I schools in Jalen SullingerJalenSullinger5'11" | PGThomas Worthington | 2021StateOH and Tyrese HugheyTyreseHughey6'7" | PFThomas Worthington | 2021StateOH. Alongside that duo they have seniors Isaac SettlesIsaacSettles6'5" | SGThomas Worthington | 2021StateOH, Maurice CollinsMauriceCollins6'6" | PFThomas Worthington | 2021StateOH and Omari EffiongOmariEffiong6'2" | SGThomas Worthington | 2021StateOH. With those five seniors expecting heavy minutes, Thomas Worthington is very experienced heading into this season. Sophomores Joey ZalewskiJoeyZalewski6'1" | SGThomas Worthington | 2023StateOH and Caleb Miller will bring some young spark to the Cardinals this season. Lakota East: The Thunderhawks were still alive when last season ended, and say goodbye to two of their top players. Nate JohnsonNateJohnson6'4" | PGLakota East | 2021StateOH is back and he’s going to be riding with Kobe PeckKobePeck5'11" | PGLakota East | 2022StateOH and Jadon ColesJadonColes6'3" | SFLakota East | 2022StateOH in the back-court. Add in a Sophomore transfer from Saint Xavier in Jack Kronauge and Lakota East has a lot of guard depth. The question for Lakota East is who will step up in the paint and eventually guard Logan DuncombLoganDuncomb6'9" | CMoeller | 2021State#74NationOH, because nobody is getting to the final 4 out of the SW Ohio region without going through Moeller. Huber Heights Wayne: Wayne is projected as the top team in the GWOC, neck and neck with Centerville. Lawrent RiceLawrentRice6'3" | PGWayne | 2023State#61NationOH is a Sophomore stud, and he’ll be complimented by a talented senior class next to him. Guys like Malcolm CurryMalcolmCurry6'1" | SGWayne | 2021StateOH and Cam FancherCamFancher6'2" | SGWayne | 2021StateOH will be his running-mates in the back-court. In the front-court, Wayne returns Ben PalmaBenPalma6'7" | PFWayne | 2021StateOH and Elijah BrownElijahBrown6'6" | PFWayne | 2022StateOH, they also add Prophet JohnsonProphetJohnson6'3" | SFHuber Heights Wayne | 2021StateOH from Thurgood-Marshall. Like I said, it will be close between Wayne and Centerville for top team in the GWOC this season. Other teams to watch by region Northeast: Medina, Shaker Heights, Lorain, Saint Ignatius, Saint Edward, Solon Northwest: Findlay, St Francis De Sales, Lima Sr Central: Hilliard Bradley, Pickerington Central, Pickerington North, Olentangy Liberty Southwest: Princeton, Centerville, Saint Xavier, La Salle