OHSAA State Tournament Preview
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The OHSAA basketball season is finally reaching its conclusion and will finish with four teams being awarded state titles on Sunday, March 20th at the University of Dayton. In this article we’ll be looking at each Division and what players you want to watch and how much has changed since the preseason.
Division I
Centerville (preseason number 1) The Elks are the undisputed favorites, having won almost 50 straight games dating back to last season. Their three headed monster of Gabe Cupps Gabe Cupps 6'1" | PG Centerville | 2023 State #80 Nation OH , Tom House Tom House 6'5" | SF Centerville | 2022 State OH and Rich Rolf Rich Rolf 6'6" | PF Centerville | 2022 State OH have ran through the GWOC and Prep schedule that they faced this season. Centerville was tested by Fairmont in the regional semifinals but House made sure the Elks weren’t going home. Look for role players like Quinn Hafner Quinn Hafner 6'1" | SG Centerville | 2022 State OH , Emmanuel Deng Emmanuel Deng 6'2" | SG Centerville | 2023 State OH and Ryan Keifer Ryan Keifer 6'2" | PF Centerville | 2022 State OH to also play key roles in their quest for a second straight title.
Saint Ignatius (preseason number 3) An up and down season for the Wildcats, but they are playing as well as they have all season right now. A good mix of seniors with Jonathan Effertz Jonathan Effertz 6'0" | PG St. Ignatius | 2022 State OH and CJ Yarian CJ Yarian 6'10" | C St. Ignatius | 2022 State OH alongside sophomores like Calvin Little Calvin Little 6'2" | PG Garfield Heights | 2024 State OH , 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 . Junior Braydn Szczepaniak Braydn Szczepaniak 6'4" | SF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State OH has also stepped up big time in their late season push.
Pickerington Central (preseason number 4) The Tigers are led by the most athletic frontcourt in the state with Devin Royal Devin Royal 6'6" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State #49 Nation OH , Sonny Styles Sonny Styles 6'4" | SF Pickerington Central | 2023 OH and Gavin Headings Gavin Headings 6'8" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH . Royal has played his way into the discussion for Mr Basketball as he and Sonny Styles Sonny Styles 6'4" | SF Pickerington Central | 2023 OH dominated Gahanna in the regional final. Juwan Turner Juwan Turner 5'10" | PG Pickerington Central | 2024 State OH and Josh Harlan Josh Harlan 5'10" | PG Pickerington Central | 2022 State OH provide steadiness in the backcourt while Rasheem Biles and Markell Johnson provide sparks off the bench.
Saint Edward (preseason number 8) Michael Bova Michael Bova 6'2" | CG St. Edward | 2022 State OH and Jair Knight Jair Knight 6'2" | SG Saint Edward | 2022 State OH have led Eric Flannery and company to a state appearance for a fourth different decade. Bova is the only regular from the Eagles 2020 team that had state title aspirations before COVID cancelled the tournament. 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 are intriguing basketball prospects but don’t forget about Zyion Freer Brown who will be putting the pads on at Dartmouth next season.
Division II
STVM (preseason number 1) A familiar face here as the defending state champions will look to add to their trophy case in 2022. The Irish are led by Sencire Harris Sencire Harris 6'4" | PG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2022 State #79 Nation OH who is a candidate for Mr Basketball. Harris is joined alongside Ramar Pryor Ramar Pryor 6'2" | SG St. Vincent-St. Mary | 2022 State OH , 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 a group of role pieces that all know their role and play hard. The Irish are deserving favorites and will need their opponent to play their best game to defeat them.
Kettering Alter (preseason number 4) Alter had arguably the toughest regional championship against my preseason number 3 squad in Cincinnati Woodward. As the season played out, I thought the Knights have established themselves as the second-best team in Division II with Jacob Conner Jacob Conner 6'7" | PF Alter | 2022 State OH having a big senior season for the Knights. Surrounding Conner are a variety of shooters including Anthony Ruffolo Anthony Ruffolo 5'10" | PG Archbishop Alter | 2023 State OH , Ryan Chew Ryan Chew 5'11" | PG Bellbrook | 2022 State OH , Gavin Geisel Gavin Geisel 6'0" | SG Alter | 2023 State OH and Aj Leen Aj Leen 6'2" | SF Kettering Alter | 2023 State OH . Alter defeated Indiana powerhouse Homestead in their season opener and will look to pull off a similar upset against STVM in the semis.
Waverly (preseason number 10) The Tigers were the clear top team in southeast Ohio and played like it throughout the entire season. They had a major challenge in the regional final when Heath stood between them and a state appearance, and it took overtime but the Tigers got here. Trey Robertson Trey Robertson 5'10" | PG Waverly | 2022 State OH leads a senior laden squad with lots of multi sport athletes that have had a lot of success on the gridiron throughout their athletic careers.
Gilmour (preseason ‘honorable mention’) Gilmour is one of two teams to make the state tournament that didn’t appear in the Prep Hoops preseason rankings. The Lancers were on our radar, but I didn’t expect them to breeze through Buchtel and Toledo Central Catholic with convincing wins. Ryan Mueller Ryan Mueller 6'7" | PF Gilmour Academy | 2022 State OH has really broken out as a senior while Desh Molton Desh Molton 6'0" | PG Gilmour | 2023 State OH and Brandon Rose Brandon Rose 6'4" | SF Gilmour | 2023 State OH have both grown up and are ready for the moment.
Division III
Cincinnati Taft (preseason number 1) Despite an inconsistent regular season without many signature wins, Taft has figured it out and are returning to the state semis once again with Rayvon Griffith Rayvon Griffith 6'6" | SF AZ Compass Prep | 2023 State #78 Nation AZ . This time around Mekhi Elmore Mekhi Elmore 6'1" | PG Thurgood Marshallchooligh | 2022 State OH is still eligibe after last season being forced to watch the second half of the season due to OHSAA transfer rules. Eian Elmer Eian Elmer 6'6" | SF Taft | 2023 State OH is a high-flying wing while freshman Kerian Granville will likely battle with Jesse McCulloch Jesse McCulloch 6'9" | PF Lutheran East | 2024 State #136 Nation OH in the post.
Lutheran East (preseason number 2) Lutheran East is another team that went through some mid-season struggles playing against a brutal schedule, but here the Falcons are again. Lutheran East hasn’t lost before the state tournament since 2016. Cody Head Cody Head 6'1" | CG Lutheran East | 2023 State OH and Jamail Spivey lead them as guards while Jesse McCulloch Jesse McCulloch 6'9" | PF Lutheran East | 2024 State #136 Nation OH is one of the top Sophomores in the state. Lutheran East has also found production from many different guys off their bench and have rotated the starting lineup as the season has played out.
Africentric (preseason number 3) Dailyn Swain Dailyn Swain 6'7" | SF Africentric | 2023 State #81 Nation OH is playing incredible basketball right now and shouldn’t be counted out to go out and win the whole thing as a Junior. Swain is paired with seniors Dan Wagner Dan Wagner 6'0" | CG Columbus Africentric Early College | 2022 State OH and Josiah Smith while Junior Preston Steele Preston Steele 6'5" | PF Africentric | 2023 State OH has given them solid production as well. I feel like things really turned for the Nubians when they came back from a major halftime deficit against Beechcroft in the Columbus City League Championship. Since the start of the second half, I’m not sure if anybody in the state has matched Swain’s impact on winning.
Ottawa Glandorf (preseason number 5) The Titans took down Colonel Crawford in a battle between my preseason number 4 and 5 teams in this Division. Colin White Colin White 6'5" | SG Ottawa Glandorf | 2024 State #156 Nation OH has blossomed into a star as a Sophomore and Ottawa Glandorf plays their typical very aesthetically pleasing brand of basketball based around ball movement and shooting. Last season they were at a major talent disadvantage against Lutheran East but this year all four squads are pretty similar in terms of team strength and talent. (All top 5 preseason teams) We’ll see if Tyson McGlaughlin can bring the state championship back to Ottawa.
Division IV
Richmond Heights (preseason number 1) The Spartans have been knocking on the door of a state title and I’ve been a firm believer that this is the year. Josiah Harris Josiah Harris 6'7" | PF Richmond Heights | 2022 State #243 Nation OH is a senior and he’s joined by Benedictine transfers London Maiden London Maiden 6'8" | C Richmond Heights | 2022 State OH and Detric Hearst Detric Hearst 6'4" | SF Richmond Heights | 2022 State OH . Freshman Dorian Jones and DeErrick Barber bring a new punch for the Spartans as well this season.
Berlin Hiland (preseason unranked) I’ll be the first to admit, I should’ve had Berlin Hiland on at least my honorable mention in Division IV, their program culture has earned that respect. A dominant force in the east district, it wasn’t as easy as it sometimes is to make it to states from the Convocation Center. Despite the close calls, Hiland is here led by Chris Shelter and Sammy Detweiler and play their typical style of play with few turnovers and smart shot selection.
Tri Village (preseason number 2) There was a lot of debate between Tri Village and Botkins in SW region of Division IV and despite losing in the regular season, the Patriots were able to get revenge in the playoffs and keep their season alive. Layne Sarver Layne Sarver 6'4" | SF Tri-Village | 2022 State OH is joined by a lot of size including Josh Scatland, Wilson Suggs and Dalton DeLong Dalton DeLong 5'11" | PG Tri-Village | 2023 OH . Their defense has really stepped up in this postseason run.
Antwerp (preseason number 3) The Archers are led by Jaggers Landers who is playing exceptional basketball right now. Landers is a load in the paint and when you double team him, he’s going to find Luke Krouse, Landon Brewer Landon Brewer 6'5" | SG Antwerp | 2024 State OH or another Archer teammate for a good shot. Antwerp should come into this state tournament with high expectations and a chance to bring a title home when it’s all said and done.