Wrapping up our analysis of the 2020 Watch List, we figured it's time to look into the future of Ohio high school basketball. Meaning, we're taking a dive into the top ten high school classes in the state, as it relates to 2020.
Barring transfers (of which there will probably be plenty), these ten schools should be Regional Title threats when these kids become upperclassmen.
The following list is strictly in alphabetical order.
Click here for Part 1 from yesterday!
Cincinnati Princeton — Darrion Henry, Jaheim Thomas, and Aaron Ward
The Vikings should be interesting next season, with Darius Bazley, Darweshi Hunter, and Dominic Pierce returning as seniors. However, all of those guys are perimeter players, even though Bazley is 6'9”.
With that being said, they may need to start one or two of these 2020 prospects to protect the rim and provide an inside presence. Personally, Henry and Ward feel like the answer — they're physical kids who are competing against some premier competition this summer in preparation for next winter. If they're able to find chemistry with the five we just mentioned, Princeton may be a real threat to challenge anyone in Southwest Ohio next season.
Beyond that, once these three become the headliners for Princeton, we strongly believe they'll be a formidable team in their own right.
Lakewood St. Edward — Devontae Blanton, Montorie Foster, Devin Hightower, and Grant Huffman
At this moment in time, there's no class better than that of St. Ed. Sure, Matt Allocco and Chris Mayfield might be individually better at Hilliard Bradley, but Eds has
four studs.
Looking into the future, Blanton, Foster, Hightower, and Huffman, should all be able to share the court together as upperclassmen. While Hightower, Foster, and Huffman may play point guard in the AAU season, we expect them to gel nicely in the winter eventually. As they continue to log minutes and build an identity together, St. Edward should become a State Championship contender.
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary — Marcus Johnson, Dominic Moegerle, and Jalen Ross
We find this Fighting Irish class to be an interesting one. First of all, all three of these budding prospects are wildly athletic, but in their own way. For example, here's Dominic Moegerle...
https://twitter.com/ohhoopslive/status/862440481715892224
We remember watching Moegerle last summer for SMAC, and he projected to be a true perimeter wing. However, he's more of a forward now because of his ability on the boards, and inability to create off the dribble.
Then, Ross is sort of an overall athlete, who competes like crazy. He can attack in the lane and finish through contact.
Johnson is a slippery 6'4” face-up power forward who is going to embarrass opposing post players. The kid can has very agile feet, but also the strength to bury a back-peddling defender.
St. Vincent-St. Mary is going to need a point guard to pull this all together, but here are three crucial role pieces. It'll be interesting to see how the defending State Champs use these guys next season alongside guys like Lunden McDay, Scott Walter, and Chris Painter.
Trotwood Madison — Sammy Anderson and Carl Blanton
There may not be a class who has two players who fit their system better than Anderson and Blanton seamlessly fit the Trotwood mold. Both play incredibly tenacious defense and will score in transition in various ways. It actually earned both of them crucial minutes last season as freshmen.
With the graduation of Torrey Patton and Amir Foster, expect these two to gain larger offensive roles than they saw last season, as they hardly shot the basketball when we watched the Rams last year. Truly, they
should shoot more often, as both have shown us this spring with All Ohio Red EYBL that it's in their arsenal.
Walnut Ridge — VonCameron Davis and Qian Magwood
The Columbus City League could potentially be taken by storm by Davis and Magwood in a few years. Interestingly enough, they're both building upon their basketball relationship by playing with each other with C2K Elite this summer.
Individually, Walnut Ridge has two guys who can go get a basket on any given possession. Magwood is very tough to stay in front of, as his dribbling talent and quickness can take him anywhere on the court. As far as Davis, we're continually impressed with his combination of elusiveness and strength in the lane, especially when attacking from the elbow/high-post.
