Rankings Overview: Top 10 Most Talented Varsity Rosters
A weeklong series of Rankings Overview content will answer various questions about the upcoming high school season regarding college talent and teams to watch, for both fans and scouts. Specifically: Who are the 10 most talented teams? (That’s this one.)…
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Continue ReadingA weeklong series of Rankings Overview content will answer various questions about the upcoming high school season regarding college talent and teams to watch, for both fans and scouts.
Specifically:
- Who are the 10 most talented teams? (That’s this one.)
- Who are the 10 most talented frontcourts and backcourts?
- Which teams are deepest in college talent?
- Which programs are on the rise?
- Who are the most talented small schools?
We’re not just pulling names out of a hat or going on hunches, either. Instead, we’ve got a formula. True science coming atcha!
Here’s how it works: every ranked player is assigned a numerical value based on their rank. For example, there are 200 players in the 2019 Prospect Rankings and prospect no. 1 counts for 200 points, no. 2 counts for 199, all the way down to no. 200 counting for 1 point. In the 2020 Prospect Rankings, the no. 1 player counts for 173 points because there are 173 ranked prospects. For 2021, there are 106 players.
So, we’ve totaled the values for each team and pulled which teams ranked highest in said categories. For example, Hamilton has 401 total points from D’Marco Howard (no. 68 in 2019 = 133 points), Jaylen Robinson (104 points), Trey Robinson (134 points), and Roemello Diablo (27 points). That also accounts for 237 backcourt points, 164 frontcourt points, and 164 rising teams points, which we’ll explain more on Friday.
If you can’t tell, the process of it was super boring, unless you’re a real nerd like me. But the results are interesting!
And we’re starting with the most important and intriguing superlative first: The 10 most talented varsity rosters in Ohio.
#1 Pickerington Central: 874 points
Seniors: Javohn Garcia + Sam Towns + Coleton Landis + Jaidon Lipscomb + JaJuan “Jay” Rodgers
Juniors: Tahleik Walker + Conner Maciag
Sophomores: Garner Wallace + Elhadji Thiam
The state’s most talented roster is going to dominate the week here at Prep Hoops Ohio. Even without the help of 199 more points from UNC commit Jeremiah Francis, who is missing the season with injury, Pick Central leads three major categories in the Rankings Overview. They’re the only team whose near-whole rotation (only missing Juan Woods) is ranked.
We’re pretty sure that is exercise isn’t entirely indicative of the best ten teams in Ohio because of what it doesn’t account for. Pickerington Central, though, is the Division I preseason favorite in the Central Region.
#2 Moeller: 851 points
Seniors: Miles “Deuce” McBride + Alec Pfriem
Juniors: Jake Younkin + Max Land
Sophomores: Logan Duncomb + William McCracken
There may be some Moeller fans upset with the prospects missing from this equation. But, we made a unique exception when factoring Moeller’s total because, well, the Crusaders run a unique program. We excluded the players who we expect to play JV this season, which is a total of six other ranked players. If we were to include them, Moeller would’ve won pretty much every category, by the way.
#3 St. Vincent-St. Mary: 710 points
Seniors: Lunden McDay + Chris Painter + Darrius Cone + Keyshawn Jones
Juniors: Isaiah Ingol + Marcus Johnson
Sophomores: Seth Wilson + Malaki Branham
The OHSAA Division II teams should be grateful of STVM’s move up. Ironically, it’s kind of like LeBron James moving to the Western Conference (Division I) this season, where everyone in the East (Division II) should feel like they have a chance now.
Anyways, one of the flaws of this inexact science is that it may undervalue top tier underclassmen. Frankly, Wilson is more valuable than the senior or junior who count for 104 points. Despite being just nine points removed from fourth place, the Irish are closer to Moeller than UA talent-wise. So, keep that sort of thing in mind as you scroll through and come up with your own opinions.
#4 Upper Arlington: 702 points
Seniors: Max Martz + CJ Karsatos + Josh Russell
Juniors: Max Mollman + Jake Warriner + Fred Wilkes II
Sophomores: Kobe Buford
UA lost 2017-18’s Mr. Basketball Dane Goodwin and still rank no. 4 in overall varsity talent. On the spectrum of expectations for UA, we’re on the high end. However, they have chemistry stuff to work out. Of these seven players, Martz is the only guy who played significant minutes for them last season, and even he is thrust into an entirely new role.
#5 St. Edward: 692 points
Seniors: Demetrius Terry
Juniors: Grant Huffman + Devontae Blanton + Montorie Foster + Lawson Nash
Sophomores: Caleb Warren
A trio of juniors accounted for 494 points by themselves here. If the formula accounted for freshmen, Ed’s would also get a boost from Bryan Flannery, who often started on the 15U circuit for NEO Tru Game. Expect Ed’s to be in the mix once again this season after being upset in the Regional Semifinals by Lorain last season.
#6 Benedictine: 643 points
Seniors: Davin Zeigler + Kevin Bishop
Juniors: Andy Barba + Jashun Cobb + Anthony Maxie + Eric Buckner Jr.
Benedictine is the highest ranked Division II program and the first of two in the Top 10. Shaker Heights transfer Kevin Bishop should help solidify a frontline that lost three contributing seniors from the 2018 class.
#7 Lutheran East: 639 points
Juniors: Nehemiah Benson + Dayvon Adams + TJ Blevins
Sophomores: EJ Farmer + Jalin Billingsley + Colin Albert + Sirr Hughes
Lutheran East is the only “small school” in the Top 10, which we’re distinguishing at OHSAA Division III and IV programs. Considering that they have three top 25 sophomores, the formula may not be doing the Falcons justice because it undervalues top tier underclassmen. However, their season may hinge on the availability of their transfers, nonetheless.
#8 Garfield Heights: 598 points
Seniors: Brison Waller
Juniors: Brent Darby Jr. + Jesse Laster + Gilbert Davis
Sophomores: Meechie Johnson
We also expect freshman Sonny Johnson Jr. to contribute, probably even start, for the Bulldogs this season. If the next Johnson is ready to make a Meechie Johnson-type impact as a freshman, then Garfield Heights’ offense will keep them in any game this season.
#9 Trotwood: 594 points
Seniors: Amari Davis + Justin Stephens
Juniors: Carl Blanton + Sammy Anderson
Trotwood receives some help from their non-committed two-sports starts, Stephens and Anderson, who will likely play college football. Despite another talented roster who can fit their high-pressure defensive system, Trotwood’s place in the Division II Final Four doesn’t feel as inevitable as it has in year’s passed.
#10 Brush: 549 points
Seniors: Andre Harris + DJ Dial
Juniors: John Hugley + Corey Floyd
Sophomores: Jalen Dial
With the graduation of Harris and Dial looming, the time is now for potential to turn into production for the Brush Arcs. They also acquired a spark from Elmore James this offseason, an incoming freshman with the physical tools to make a varsity impact on the wing.