OHSAA Division II State Title Contenders
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The Ohio High School Basketball season is rapidly approaching and that means it’s time to preview some of the top teams in each division in the state. In this article I’ll be looking at the team favored to make a…
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Continue ReadingThe Ohio High School Basketball season is rapidly approaching and that means it’s time to preview some of the top teams in each division in the state. In this article I’ll be looking at the team favored to make a deep run in Division II this season.
STVM: STVM is one of the most dominant programs in the country and this season should be another strong one for the Irish. Malaki Branham Malaki Branham 6'5" | SG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2021 State #26 Nation OH and Sencire Harris Sencire Harris 6'4" | PG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2022 State #79 Nation OH are as good of a 1-2 punch that you’ll see in Ohio. The Irish are so successful because of their depth and accepting of smaller roles to help the team win. Isaiah Ingol Isaiah Ingol 5'11" | PG St. Vincent-St.Mary | 2020 State OH was the perfect example of this last season, and this year Austin Rayman Austin Rayman 5'11" | SG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2021 State OH and Darrian Lewis will provide some senior leadership. Throw in Ramar Pryor Ramar Pryor 6'2" | SG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2022 State OH who should crack the starting line-up for his Junior year and the Irish have a lot of guard and wing depth. Sophomore Lance Hayes Lance Hayes 6'4" | SG St. Vincent-St. Mary's | 2023 State OH and Darius Stratford Darius Stratford 6'8" | C St. Vincent-St. Mary's | 2023 State OH both have very high upsides and will be looked to contribute much more this season.
Lima Shawnee: Shawnee went unbeaten and return almost everybody from last season, that’s a good recipe for success. George Mangas George Mangas 6'4" | SF Lima Shawnee | 2021 State OH is their star, as the Senior wing is one of the top scorers in Ohio. Tyson Elwer Tyson Elwer 6'6" | C Lima Shawnee | 2021 State OH is very underappreciated but he does all the dirty work and was rewarded for his efforts by committing to the University of St Francis, an NAIA school. Shawnee also has seniors in Caden Vermillion and Jarin Bertke that provide size and defense from the forward positions. They do lose point guard John Barker but Brady Wheeler showed he was more than capable of filling those shoes next season. I expect Shawnee to win a very high percentage of regular season games (wanted to say 20+ but no guarantee they even play 20 games this year) and make a serious run at a state championship.
Columbus DeSales: Another D2 team with a senior wing who can simply carry his team on the offensive end. Desmond Watson Desmond Watson 6'5" | SF Columbus DeSales | 2021 State #207 Nation OH is one of the most explosive athletes in the state and can really score the basketball. He’s taken massive strides with his outside shooting and isolation scoring and that makes him a terror to defenses. Austin Mann is a returning double-digit scoring option and Atticus Schuler Atticus Schuler 6'6" | PF Desales | 2022 State OH looks ready to breakout this season. Depth might be a small question after Kobe Righter Kobe Righter 5'11" | PG Columbus DeSales | 2020 State OH graduates, but I expect DeSales to be the favorites in the Columbus area among D2 teams.
Trotwood-Madison: Trotwood has become one of the most consistent programs in Ohio due to their unique style that gives opponents a lot of trouble. They add offensive firepower in Anthony McComb Anthony McComb 6'2" | SG Trotwood | 2021 State OH who will thrive in their up and down fast paced style. Juniors Sellers Little Sellers Little 5'7" | PG Trotwood | 2022 OH and Tymier Blanton Tymier Blanton 6'3" | SF Trotwood | 2022 OH will be expected to step up after the Rams lose Sammy Anderson and Carl Blanton Carl Blanton 6'2" | SG Trotwood | 2020 State OH to graduation. Carter Mims Carter Mims 5'8" | PG Trotwood | 2021 State OH , Damontay Raglin Damontay Raglin 6'6" | PF Trotwood | 2021 State OH and Courtney Blake Courtney Blake 6'2" | PG Trotwood | 2021 State OH will provide some senior experience this season. Trotwood doesn’t need a ton of talent to win with their style of play, but there’s more than enough to contend for another state title in 2020-21 after the Rams are allowed to start the season.
Dayton Dunbar: Dunbar was a dominant program in the mid 2000’s but have had some down seasons recently. A influx of transfer talent will make them a team to watch in 2020-21. Mekhi Elmore Mekhi Elmore 6'1" | PG Thurgood Marshallchooligh | 2022 State OH and Chanze Amerson Chanze Amerson 6'1" | PG Dunbar | 2021 State OH form a solid guard partnership that blossomed for Thurgood-Marshall last season. Antaune Allen Antaune Allen 6'2" | CG Dunbar | 2023 State OH showed a lot of promise as a Freshman and he’s now at Dunbar this season. Justin O’Neal Justin O’Neal 6'4" | SG Dunbar | 2021 State OH is another transfer who will be expect to make major contributions this season. With all of these new faces it might take a long time for them to build their chemistry, but by March this could be one of the more dangerous teams in Division II.
Warrensville Heights: Warrensville was poised to make the final four last year before COVID-19 cancelled the tournament. Ramelle Arnold Ramelle Arnold 6'0" | PG Warrensville Heights | 2021 State OH is back but he’s joined now by Jaden Hameed Jaden Hameed 5'11" | PG Warrensville Heights | 2021 State OH in the back-court. This duo should score 20+ PPG each this season, as both players are incredibly gifted scorers. Transfers Tyishawn Smiley Tyishawn Smiley 6'5" | PF Warrensville Heights | 2021 State OH and Chris Drake Chris Drake 6'7" | PF John Hay | 2021 OH provide needed front-court depth for the Tigers as they’ll be relied upon to protect the rim and clean the glass for rebounds. Warrensville would be one of the favorites to win the title in Division III, but they’ll still contend in Division II with this talented core.
Cincinnati Woodward: I was probably a year too early on Woodward last season when I pegged them as one of the top teams in Division II. Paul McMillan had a great individual season but it didn’t lead to a lot of victories. Montev Ware Montev Ware 6'1" | SG Woodward | 2021 State OH , Aaron Davis and Kanye Moreland Kanye Moreland 5'11" | CG Cincinnati Woodward | 2023 State OH are all a year older and should be more equipped to take some of the scoring load off McMillan this year.
Cincinnati Aiken: A guard tandem of Jakada Stone Jakada Stone 6'0" | PG Cincinnati Aiken | 2021 State OH and Robbie Cass Robbie Cass 5'9" | PG Mount Healthy | 2022 State OH is going to be tough for most teams to compete with. The question for Aiken is where will production come from their front-court. LeBraun Barry and Chance Davis Chance Davis 6'5" | SF Aiken | 2022 State OH are returning starters so they will be the main players expected to take a leap and help Aiken rise to the top of the CMAC after Hughes surprised everyone going unbeaten in conference play last year.
Heath: The Bulldogs went unbeaten last regular season before getting dominated by Desmond Watson Desmond Watson 6'5" | SF Columbus DeSales | 2021 State #207 Nation OH in the playoffs. Brandon McLaughlin Brandon McLaughlin 6'8" | C Heath | 2022 State OH and Keylan Williams Keylan Williams 6'6" | PF Heath | 2022 State OH are back for their Junior seasons and they’ll be looking to replicate the success they had last season. Around them is fellow Junior Reece Huber who was their third leading scorer last year. By returning your three leading scorers from an unbeaten team last season, I expect another successful season for the Bulldogs in 2020-21.
Other teams to watch
Northwest: Toledo Central Catholic, Rogers, Rossford, Upper Sandusky
Northeast: Revere, Buchtel
Central: Beechcroft, Johnstown-Monroe, Jonathan Alder
Southwest: Wyoming, Hughes, Alter, Tippecanoe, Oakwood
Southeast: Waverly, Sheridan