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 McCracken Will McCracken 6'4" | SG Hilton Head Island | 2021 State SC to an out of state transfer hurts. Logan Duncomb Logan Duncomb 6'9" | C Moeller | 2021 State #74 Nation OH is a dominant post player and Alex Williams Alex Williams 6'5" | SF Moeller | 2021 State OH is one of the more productive wings in the state. Throw in high upside wings in Aidan Noyes Aidan Noyes 6'6" | SF Moeller | 2021 State OH and Evan Mahaffey Evan Mahaffey 6'6" | SF Moeller | 2022 State #208 Nation OH plus seniors Aidan Turner Aidan Turner 6'0" | PG Moeller | 2021 State OH and Zachary George Zachary George 6'7" | C Moeller | 2021 State OH 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 Jones Sean Jones 5'11" | PG Gahanna | 2022 State #177 Nation OH and company are back and ready to go this season. Combine Jones with seniors Jarius Jones Jarius Jones 6'5" | SF Gahanna | 2021 State OH and Maceo Williams Maceo Williams 6'6" | C Gahanna | 2021 State OH 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 Simmons Javan Simmons 6'6" | C Gahanna | 2022 State OH 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 Perie Tae Perie 6'2" | PG Canton McKinley | 2021 State OH and Vernon Smith Vernon Smith 6'7" | C Canton McKinley | 2021 State OH joining the Bulldogs, McKinley has the depth to compete with anybody in the state. Kobe Johnson Kobe Johnson 6'4" | SG Canton McKinley | 2021 State #233 Nation OH 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 Farmer EJ Farmer 6'5" | SG Cleveland Heights | 2021 State OH 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, , Keyshawn Hall Keyshawn Hall 6'6" | PF Cleveland Heights | 2021 State OH 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 Waag Jonah Waag 6'2" | SG Mentor | 2021 State OH and Steven Key Steven Key 5'11" | PG Mentor | 2021 State OH both transferred in this off-season. Both play AAU basketball with Luke Chicone Luke Chicone 5'9" | PG Mentor | 2021 State OH , so their chemistry should be found rather quickly. Throw in returning pieces like Kyle Culler Kyle Culler 6'1" | SG Mentor | 2021 State OH 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 Sullinger Jalen Sullinger 5'11" | PG Thomas Worthington | 2021 State OH and Tyrese Hughey Tyrese Hughey 6'7" | PF Thomas Worthington | 2021 State OH . Alongside that duo they have seniors Isaac Settles Isaac Settles 6'5" | SG Thomas Worthington | 2021 State OH , Maurice Collins Maurice Collins 6'6" | PF Thomas Worthington | 2021 State OH and Omari Effiong Omari Effiong 6'2" | SG Thomas Worthington | 2021 State OH . With those five seniors expecting heavy minutes, Thomas Worthington is very experienced heading into this season. Sophomores Joey Zalewski Joey Zalewski 6'2" | SG Thomas Worthington | 2023 State OH 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 Johnson Nate Johnson 6'4" | PG Lakota East | 2021 State OH is back and he’s going to be riding with Kobe Peck Kobe Peck 6'0" | PG Lakota East | 2022 State OH and Jadon Coles Jadon Coles 6'3" | SF Lakota East | 2022 State OH 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 Duncomb Logan Duncomb 6'9" | C Moeller | 2021 State #74 Nation OH , 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 Rice Lawrent Rice 6'4" | PG Wayne | 2023 State #61 Nation OH is a Sophomore stud, and he’ll be complimented by a talented senior class next to him. Guys like Malcolm Curry Malcolm Curry 6'1" | SG Wayne | 2021 State OH and Cam Fancher Cam Fancher 6'2" | SG Wayne | 2021 OH will be his running-mates in the back-court. In the front-court, Wayne returns Ben Palma Ben Palma 6'7" | PF Wayne | 2021 State OH and Elijah Brown Elijah Brown 6'6" | PF Wayne | 2022 OH , they also add Prophet Johnson Prophet Johnson 6'4" | PF Huber Heights Wayne | 2021 State OH 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