Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) Preview

In regard to member schools, the OCC is one of the largest conferences in the state with over 30+ members as of this year. The conference has plenty of success every year as these schools are some of the biggest schools in the state. The defending state champions can be found in this conference along with plenty of Division I and Division II talent. Let’s see who the favorites are for this year:

(Buckeye Division)

1. 1. Pickerington Central– The Tigers are the defending state champions and will have one of the best players in the state of Ohio in Ohio State commit Devin Royal Devin Royal 6'6" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State #49 Nation OH (Sr). Royal is one of the more skilled wings you’ll find and combines guard like playmaking with a strong post-like frame. Returning alongside Royal are starters Gavin Headings Gavin Headings 6'8" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Juwan Turner Juwan Turner 5'10" | PG Pickerington Central | 2024 State OH (Jr) who are both scholarship players. The Tigers add Braylin Wells Braylin Wells 6'7" | C Pickerington Central | 2024 State OH (Sr) from Buchtel and Xavier McKinney (Fr) who will both have a chance to make immediate impacts. Seniors Andrew Hedgepath and Markell Johnson Markell Johnson 6'0" | CG Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH should see increased roles as well. Repeating in Division I is extremely hard to do, but there is no denying the Tigers have the depth and skill to make things interesting.
2. 2. Reynoldsburg– The Raiders were in the District Finals a year ago with a very young team. But with that returning talent makes them a team to watch with Pick Central. Jordan Fisher Jordan Fisher 6'5" | SF Reynoldsburg | 2025 State OH (So) and Toby Nwokolo Toby Nwokolo 6'5" | PF Reynoldsburg | 2025 State OH (So) played well in the Summer and AAU seasons as did Noah Smith Noah Smith 6'4" | SF Reynoldsburg | 2024 State OH (Jr). Bringing in Jorden Bowens (Fr) who is considered one of the best incoming freshmen in the state only adds to the Raiders’ depth and especially scaring looking roster. Reynoldsburg was able to make the District Finals a year ago and I expect them to be able to return in 2023.
3. 3. Newark– One of the most well coached teams in the state and could easily make an argument to jump Reynoldsburg at #2. The Wildcats return 3 of their top 4 from last season’s 18 win team. Grant Burkholder Grant Burkholder 5'9" | PG Newark | 2023 State OH (Sr) leads the pack out of the PG spot and plays with an exceptional motor. Steele Meister Steele Meister 6'4" | PF Newark | 2024 State OH (Jr) and Ethan Stare (Jr) both return after exceptional sophomore campaigns. Defensive basketball wins in March and that is the brand of ball Newark plays. Tough part of the division, but this is a team that could challenge yet again come Districts.
4. 4-6. Groveport Madison/Lancaster/Central Crossing– All 3 teams will have some young talent returning and bringing in some new faces, but it will certainly be tough to challenge the top half of this division. Groveport has an exciting freshman in Tyreke Ruffin (Fr) joining. Lancaster loses 2 of their top 3, but have a rising sophomore in Colton Bruny (So) to lean on. Central Crossing will bring in Kent Hairston Kent Hairston 6'5" | SF Northside Christian | 2025 State OH (So) from Licking Heights but will be without Sohn McGee from a year ago.

(Capital Division)

1. 1. Westerville North– Solid team a season ago and return many of their pieces. Have senior leadership in Carter Reese Carter Reese 6'2" | SG Westerville North | 2023 State OH and Rex Mbouge Rex Mbouge 6'4" | C Westerville North | 2023 OH . Underclassmen talent is led by Micah Young Micah Young 6'1" | CG Westerville North | 2025 State OH (So) and Tai’Ree Perkins (So), and added athleticism from Navarion Adams (Jr) who transfers in from Walnut Ridge. North was one of the few teams that gave Westerville South problems during the regular season. Now it is their turn to hold the top spot.
2. 2. Delaware Hayes– Return arguably the best player in the division in Jesse Burris Jesse Burris 6'4" | SF Delaware Hayes | 2024 State #254 Nation OH (Jr) who is attracting interest at the Division I level. Jake Lowman (Jr) and Hezekiah Russell (Sr) also return and give the Pacers some upperclassmen capable of challenging for a division title.
3. 3. Westerville South– Wildcats will have a hard time replicating last year’s 25-1 season without their top guy (Drey Carter). Do return several guys to keep them around though. Jujuan Ray Jujuan Ray 6'6" | SF Westerville South | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Jadi Cunningham (Sr) have the leadership and Kruz McClure Kruz McClure 6'4" | SG Westerville South | 2025 State OH (So) has the upside as a underclassmen.
4. 4. Dublin Scioto– I see the most improvement coming from Scioto as they return 2 of their top 3 guys from last year. Aaron Foster (So) and James Mahlon (Sr) both impressed in the offseason and showed growth in their games. Lots of room to improve and could see Scioto as a sleeper in the conference.
5. 5-8. Big Walnut/Worthington Kilbourne/Canal Winchester/Franklin Heights– Big Walnut will be a younger team and could face some problems with the top half of the division. Kilbourne will struggle now without All-District guard Ayden Parsons. Canal Winchester is down their top 2 guys through graduation and transfers and now will lean on Colin Minerd Colin Minerd 6'1" | SG Canal Winchester | 2023 State OH (Sr) this year. Franklin Heights will have their best guy back in Abdul Fofana Abdul Fofana 6'0" | PG Franklin Heights | 2023 OH (Sr) from a struggling team last year.

(Cardinal Division)

1. 1. Dublin Jerome– A District Finals appearance is certainly great for the Keltics. But the upcoming year could be even more special as Jerome returns several seniors. Ryan Nutter Ryan Nutter 6'3" | PG Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH (Sr) leads the charge as the Marshall commit runs the point and is one of the better floor generals in the state. Luke Kuhlman Luke Kuhlman 6'4" | SF Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH , Sasha Stavroff Sasha Stavroff 5'11" | CG Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH , and Lachlan Robert MacDonald Lachlan Robert MacDonald 6'1" | SG Dublin Jerome | 2023 State OH all were major parts of the run last year and should give Jerome plenty of weapons not just in the division, but at a District level as well.
2. 2. Thomas Worthington– I like what the Cardinals have back. Joey Zalewski Joey Zalewski 6'3" | SF Thomas Worthington | 2023 State OH (Sr) has been a major piece since his freshman year and will have senior leadership around him in Melvin Omameh Melvin Omameh 6'6" | PF Thomas Worthington | 2023 State OH and Benson Oriental Benson Oriental 6'3" | SF Thomas Worthington | 2023 OH . TW also returns Shaheem Nieves Shaheem Nieves 6'3" | SF Thomas Worthington | 2024 State OH (Jr) who was exceptional during the AAU and Summer and is bound for a breakout year. Might not win the division, but I could see this group turning heads come tournament.
3. 3. Marysville– Have a great junior class and might be a year away from really turning heads. Have the best player outside of Dublin Jerome in Jason Moore Jason Moore 6'8" | C Marysville | 2024 State OH (Jr). He along with Ryker Bowden Ryker Bowden 6'3" | SF Marysville | 2024 State OH (Jr) are going to be tough to prepare for on any given night.
4. 4. Olentangy Berlin– Continually getting better as a program. Nice 1-2 punch offensively in Jason Inbody Jason Inbody 6'5" | PF Olentangy Berlin | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Derek Goodman Derek Goodman 6'4" | SG Olentangy Berlin | 2024 State OH (Jr). Offensively are going to be able to do much more and force defenses to adjust.
5. 5. Hilliard Darby-Struggled a bit when I watched during the Summer. 2 of the top 3 are gone and Cam Gilkerson (Sr) is the best name returning. Rest of the division has too much back for the Panthers to continue at the top 2 spot.
6. 6. Olentangy– Not cemented to this spot, but was too inconsistent in the division last year to move too far up. Harrison Ronnebaum Harrison Ronnebaum 6'2" | SG Olentangy | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Logan Thrapp (So) both return.

(Central Division)

1. 1. Olentangy Orange– This division as a whole was the hardest to place teams. Orange though makes the best case to be the favorite after what I saw in the Summer. Trio of seniors in Elias Lewis Elias Lewis 6'2" | SG Olentangy Orange | 2023 State OH , Mikey McCollum Mikey McCollum 6'3" | PG Olentangy Orange | 2023 State OH , and Jordan Edwards Jordan Edwards 6'2" | PG Olentangy Orange | 2023 State OH all return. Have underclassmen talent in Devin Brown Devin Brown 6'4" | SF Olentangy Orange | 2025 State OH (So) and Levi Davis Levi Davis 6'0" | CG Olentangy Orange | 2026 OH (Fr) that could also make an impact early on. Short leash though in terms of having the top spot outright.
2. 2. Hilliard Bradley– Jaguars have a great junior class and have one of the best guard duos in the area in Cade Norris Cade Norris 6'3" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH (Jr) and Jeb Bischoff Jeb Bischoff 6'0" | SG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH (Jr). Norris is a Division I caliber player and is one of the best all-around players in the division. Well coached program.
3. 3. Olentangy Liberty– Patriots were in the District Finals last year and have quite a few returning. Tyler Kropp Tyler Kropp 6'8" | PF Olentangy Liberty | 2025 State OH (So) is a rising sophomore and has guys that understand how OL plays in Matt Wilson Matt Wilson 6'4" | SF Olentangy Liberty | 2023 State OH (Sr) and Alex Okuley Alex Okuley 6'3" | SF Olentangy Liberty | 2023 OH (Sr). Being without their top player (Cooper Davis) will hurt, but OL should still be one of the better teams in the division and could return back to the District Finals with the right matchups.
4. 4. Dublin Coffman– Down year last season, but should be better now with 3 of their top 5 returning. Aiden Schmidt Aiden Schmidt 6'3" | SF Dublin Coffman | 2023 State OH (Sr) impressed over the summer along with Kevin Kirkby Kevin Kirkby 6'5" | PF Dublin Coffman | 2023 State OH (Sr) and CJ Collins CJ Collins 6'2" | CG Marysville | 2025 State OH (So). Plenty of shooting options for the Shamrocks which means plenty of chances for high scoring exchanges.
5. 5. Hilliard Davidson– Lose plenty of production from last season including their top 2 players. Peyton Frey Peyton Frey 6'5" | PF Hilliard Davidson | 2023 State OH (Sr) brings inside-out potential and Tristan Morgan Tristan Morgan 5'9" | PG Hilliard Davidson | 2024 OH (Jr) gives consistent shooting/perimeter play. But the loss of that production is going to be felt in this division.
6. 6. Upper Arlington– Graduate a great senior class that got the Bears to the Regional Semifinals. 2 of the departed seniors were All-District performers. Underclassmen will be leaned on and therefore needs to keep UA at #6 for now. Weston Gregg Weston Gregg 6'2" | SF Upper Arlington | 2025 OH (So) and Cal Thrush Cal Thrush 6'4" | PF Upper Arlington | 2025 OH (So) played well in the offseason and adding Alex Smith (Fr) should help as well.

(Ohio Division)

1. 1. Pickerington North– Any other team that loses 2 All-District guards are not debuting as the divisional favorite. Pick North is the exception as they return the best player in the division in Arness Lawson Arness Lawson 6'1" | PG Pickerington North | 2025 State OH (So) and the best athlete in Jeff Amapps Jeff Amapps 6'3" | SF Pickerington North | 2023 State OH (Sr). The Panthers have a great sophomore class with Lawson including Mykell Murphy Mykell Murphy 6'3" | PF Pickerington North | 2025 OH and Mondale Bradley and are well coached. JR Bates (Fr) could see minutes early on as well.
2. 2. Grove City– Played exceptionally well at the end of the year last season and in the Summer. Returning all of their top players and all are upperclassmen. Kraig Gilbert Kraig Gilbert 6'8" | C Grove City | 2024 State OH (Jr), Kevin Gallagher (Jr), and Daniel Fetty Daniel Fetty 6'3" | SG Grove City | 2023 State OH (Sr) are those guys and are going to be a tough team to compete against every night.
3. 3. Westerville Central– Warhawks have a great junior class and likely could have been the favorites before Donovan Hunter Donovan Hunter 6'7" | PF Spire | 2023 State OH transferred to Spire in the offseason. Devin Martin Devin Martin 6'1" | PG Westerville Central | 2024 State OH and Nick Patton Nick Patton 6'2" | SG Loyola Academy | 2024 IL are 2 of those juniors and Buba Bangura Buba Bangura 6'2" Westerville Central | 2023 OH (Sr) returns as well to give the Warhawks a fearless competitor.
4. 4. Gahanna Lincoln– Lose a legendary senior class that went to back-to-back Regional Finals. Replacing that talent is no easy task, but there are guys that played well in the Summer to watch. Maurice Charlton Maurice Charlton 6'5" | PF Gahanna | 2023 State OH (Sr), Jonathan Whiteside Jonathan Whiteside 6'6" | C Gahanna | 2024 State OH (Sr), and Nehemiah McMorris Nehemiah McMorris 6'7" | C Northland | 2025 State OH (So) will all see their roles vastly increased this year.
5. 5. New Albany– Lose their top player from a year ago, but have some upperclassmen returning in Will Powell (Sr) and Braylen Nash Braylen Nash 6'3" | SG New Albany | 2024 State OH (Jr).
6. 6. Westland– Struggled last year and not returning enough to challenge the top half of the division.