Cleveland Basketball Classic Preview
In this article:
As the season approaches, I am continuing my coverage of opening weekend events to check out. This article will look at the Cleveland Basketball Classic, which will feature multiple teams from NE Ohio all at Baldwin-Wallace University on November 27th.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs the season approaches, I am continuing my coverage of opening weekend events to check out. This article will look at the Cleveland Basketball Classic, which will feature multiple teams from NE Ohio all at Baldwin-Wallace University on November 27th.
12:00pm- Padua vs Hawken– The event begins with 2 Division II programs battling it out. Padua is currently playing still in the football playoffs meaning they could be missing some of their top guys who play on that team. Hawken struggled last year and do not have much production coming back. The missing Padua guys could actually allow Hawken a chance to pull an upset and start the season off on a bright note.
1:45pm- St. Edward vs Medina– The Eagles will begin the new season with a matchup with an always competitive Medina team. St. Ed’s is returning a lot of guys from a season ago and should again be upperclassmen heavy led by seniors Cameron Grant Cameron Grant 6'5" | PF Saint Edward | 2023 State OH and Danny Lavelle Danny Lavelle 6'5" | PF Saint Edward | 2023 State OH . Medina is losing some of their guys and will be looking to several young players to help relieve those losses. Carter Hipp Carter Hipp 5'10" | PG Medina | 2023 State OH will need to really improve his game to give the Bees a chance to win this opener.
3:30pm- Gilmour Academy vs Toledo St. John’s– Gilmour enters this game as the defending State Runner Up in Division II. The return of Desh Melton and Brandon Rose Brandon Rose 6'4" | SF Gilmour | 2023 State OH will make things tough for St. John’s defensively. The Titans have some solid guards led by CJ Hornbeak CJ Hornbeak 6'2" | SG Toledo St. John's | 2023 State OH coming back to counter the Lancers’ backcourt. Both teams are going to focus on defensive tactics to win this opener.
5:15pm- Solon vs Richmond Heights– This game could be one of the more exciting matchups to watch. Solon is always a tough team to compete against and they will lean heavily on Rayquan Thompson Rayquan Thompson 6'0" | PG Solon | 2023 State OH in this one to win. Richmond Heights enters the event as my preseason #1 team in Division IV and will have Dorian Jones Dorian Jones 6'4" | SG Richmond Heights | 2025 State #61 Nation OH returning along with some other key guys. This will also give viewers a first look at Hosea Steele Hosea Steele 6'4" | SF Richmond Heights | 2024 State OH with his new team as he transferred from Cleveland Heights.
7:00pm- Olmsted Falls vs Benedictine– The finale will feature 2 teams that had opposite finishes last year. Benedictine struggled and don’t appear to be adding much returning from that team to vastly improve. Olmsted Falls won 19 games last year, but are now without Charlie Ciolek who was a leader for that team. Michael Candow returning certainly will help in this one.