OHSAA Division I Preseason Rankings
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The OHSAA Basketball season tips off soon and Prep Hoops Ohio will be updating rankings for all four Divisions throughout the season. In this article we’ll break down the top 10 Division I teams in our preseason rankings. Post your…
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Continue ReadingThe OHSAA Basketball season tips off soon and Prep Hoops Ohio will be updating rankings for all four Divisions throughout the season. In this article we’ll break down the top 10 Division I teams in our preseason rankings. Post your top 10 in our forum page!
1. Pickerington Central
The Tigers are defending state champions and have earned the right to be number one headed into 2022-23. They return Devin Royal Devin Royal 6'6" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State #49 Nation OH , one of the top players in the state. Gavin Headings Gavin Headings 6'8" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH is also back in the fold and Braylin Wells Braylin Wells 6'7" | C Pickerington Central | 2024 State OH returns after leaving for Akron Buchtel for one season. Juwan Turner Juwan Turner 5'10" | PG Pickerington Central | 2024 State OH left over the summer but decided to come back and his return is why Pickerington Central is number one in the rankings. Turner brings a steady presence to a guard room that’s filled with guys ready to break out. Among those guards looking to make a bigger impact are Markell Johnson Markell Johnson 6'0" | CG Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH , Andrew Hedgepeth Andrew Hedgepeth 6'2" | PG Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH , Amare Spiva Amare Spiva 6'1" | CG Pickerington Central | 2025 State OH and Xavier McKinney Xavier McKinney 6'3" | CG Reynoldsburg | 2026 State OH . The Tigers go from the hunter to the hunted, we’ll see how they handle this change.
2. Centerville
The Elks lost a ton of production from last year’s state runner up squad that was nationally ranked. They do return Gabe Cupps Gabe Cupps 6'1" | PG Centerville | 2023 State #80 Nation OH and brought in some reinforcements along the way. Jonathan Powell Jonathan Powell 6'5" | SG Centerville | 2024 State #164 Nation OH comes from Chaminade Julienne and Collin O’Connor Collin O’Connor 6'2" | SG Centerville | 2023 State OH from Tecumseh. They also have depth with a lot of guys ready to contribute who were stuck behind talented seniors last season. The Elks will once again be in the state title hunt.
3. Saint Ignatius
The Wildcats have one of the biggest and talented teams in the state. In their frontcourt they have Damon Friery Damon Friery 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2025 State #97 Nation OH who could be the breakout player of the season, Reece Robinson Reece Robinson 6'7" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2024 State OH and Owen Maruca Owen Maruca 6'5" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State OH . Their guards include Ace Buckner Ace Buckner 6'1" | PG La Lumiere | 2024 #195 Nation IN and Carter Jackson Carter Jackson 6'2" | SG Garfield Heights | 2024 State OH plus guys like Quinn Woidke Quinn Woidke 6'1" | CG Saint Ignatius | 2025 State OH off the bench. Braydn Szczepaniak Braydn Szczepaniak 6'4" | SF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State OH is another great glue piece who helps them win games. This team is deep and has a lot of size, which will play a major part in their success.
4. Akron STVM
The Irish move up to Division I after back-to-back state titles in Division II. They are without the star power they usually have after Malaki Branham and Sencire Harris have both graduated, but Lance Hayes Lance Hayes 6'4" | SG St. Vincent-St. Mary's | 2023 State OH , Darius Stratford Darius Stratford 6'8" | C St. Vincent-St. Mary's | 2023 State OH and Kevin Hamilton Kevin Hamilton 5'8" | PG St Vincent St Mary Hs | 2023 State OH have lots of talent and experience. Dru Joyce II is one of the best coaches the state of Ohio has ever seen and will have his team ready for a playoff push with the best of the best.
5. Archbishop Moeller
Moeller had a down season for their lofty standards but return a lot of talent in 2022-23. AJ McBride AJ McBride 6'5" | SF Moeller | 2024 State OH took huge steps this summer and Kingston Land Kingston Land 6'9" | PF Moeller | 2025 State #209 Nation OH is another 2025 prospect ready to make a name for himself. With solid guards with varsity experience from last season, I expect Moeller to once again be one of the top teams in SW Ohio in 2022-23.
6. Sycamore
Raleigh Burgess Raleigh Burgess 6'10" | C Sycamore | 2024 State #130 Nation OH is one of the top 2024 prospects in the state but Sycamore has a lot of complimentary pieces that make this team so tough to beat. Des Bolden Des Bolden 5'11" | PG Sycamore | 2023 State OH , Bryce Darbyshire Bryce Darbyshire 6'3" | SF Sycamore | 2023 State OH , Austin Southerland Austin Southerland 6'1" | SG Sycamore | 2023 State OH and Charlie Hall is a group of seniors with a lot of experience and chemistry playing together. I think the Aves are the favorite in a stacked GMC.
7. Saint Edward
The Eagles seem to always find themselves at the end of the playoff race and last season was no different as their season ended in Dayton. The Eagles have a lot of size with Cameron Grant Cameron Grant 6'5" | PF Saint Edward | 2023 State OH , Danny Lavelle Danny Lavelle 6'5" | PF Saint Edward | 2023 State OH and Wendell Henry Wendell Henry 6'5" | PF St. Edward - Lakewood, OH | 2024 State OH all returning at the forward position. Lucas Perusek Lucas Perusek 6'0" | PG Saint Edward | 2023 State OH showed flashes in the summer to take over point guard duties and the Eagles have talent ready to come off the bench and contribute.
8. Lakota East
The Thunderhawks played some impressive basketball in the summer and have a lot of pieces I like offensively. Trey Perry Trey Perry 6'1" | PG Lakota East | 2025 State OH is the top prospect on this team and fits exactly what head coach Clint Adkins wants from a point guard. Scoring wings like Jack Kronauge Jack Kronauge 6'1" | SG St Xavier | 2023 State OH and Julian Mitchell Julian Mitchell 6'5" | SF Lakota East | 2023 State OH will put up buckets and transfer Derek Jackson Derek Jackson 6'6" | PF Lakota East | 2024 State OH is a key piece coming over from Lakota West.
9. Lima Sr
The top team in NW Ohio year in and year out, the Spartans have a new look to them in 2022-23. Their 2025 class has a lot of talent with Jagger Hutchins Jagger Hutchins 6'6" | PF Lima Sr | 2025 State OH , Jekel Cotton Jekel Cotton 6'5" | SF Lima Sr | 2025 State OH and Isaiah Wilson. The Spartans also have tough senior guards including Brandon Moore Brandon Moore 6'2" | SG Lima Sr | 2023 State OH . Until dethroned, the NW Ohio Division I playoffs run through Lima.
10. Dublin Jerome
The Celtics have their most talented team in recent memory this season with a lot of returning production. Ryan Nutter Ryan Nutter 6'3" | PG Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH , Lachlan MacDonald and Luke Kuhlman Luke Kuhlman 6'4" | SF Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH are three seniors who played key roles as Juniors. Combine that with skilled pieces like Sasha Stavroff Sasha Stavroff 5'11" | CG Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH and others capable of going off on any given night and it’s going to be tough to beat this team.
Honorable Mention (Alphabetical)
Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Brush, Cincinnati Elder, Cleveland Heights, Fairfield, Garfield Heights, Hilliard Bradley, Huber Heights Wayne, Lakota West, Mentor, Olentangy Orange, Reynoldsburg