Ohio Play By Play Classic Preview
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The biggest single day event of the Ohio High School Basketball Season is this Saturday when six games tip off at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. This article will preview the six games with storylines and players to watch. Game 1…
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Continue ReadingThe biggest single day event of the Ohio High School Basketball Season is this Saturday when six games tip off at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. This article will preview the six games with storylines and players to watch.
Game 1 Olentangy Orange Vs Cleveland Heights
The first game starts off with a battle of one of the top public schools from the Columbus area against one of the top public schools in the Cleveland area. Olentangy Orange has a trio of guards that are scholarship level talents in Jordan Edwards Jordan Edwards 6'3" | PG Olentangy Orange | 2023 State OH , Mikey McCollum Mikey McCollum 6'3" | PG Olentangy Orange | 2023 State OH and Elias Lewis Elias Lewis 6'2" | SG Olentangy Orange | 2023 State OH . McCollum suffered an injury at the end of the Pioneers victory over Dublin Jerome though. For Cleveland Heights, they’ve played some top teams already from northeast Ohio and boast some intriguing guards including Shemarion Hardy Shemarion Hardy 6'1" | PG Cleveland Heights | 2023 State OH , Rayvelle Duncan Rayvelle Duncan 6'3" | SG Cleveland Heights | 2023 State OH and Rondelle Pollard Rondelle Pollard 5'11" | PG Cleveland Heights | 2023 State OH . This should be a fun up and down contest to get the day started.
Game 2 Garfield Heights Vs Chaminade Julienne
Garfield Heights is led by superstar freshman Marcus Johnson who is scoring over 20 PPG to open his high school career. Johnson has a talented team around him led by Juniors Calvin Little Calvin Little 6'2" | PG Garfield Heights | 2024 State OH and Deandre Jones Deandre Jones 6'8" | PF Garfield Heights | 2024 State #266 Nation OH . The Bulldogs also have seniors who play hard and make winning plays. On the other side, Chaminade Julienne is led by the Washington brothers, George and Jackson are the notables but freshman JJ Washington has also seen some minutes for CJ. Evan Dickey Evan Dickey 6'4" | SG Chaminade-Julienne | 2023 State OH and Devin Rakestraw Devin Rakestraw 6'6" | PF Chaminade Julienne | 2024 State OH are key returners for the Eagles who currently appear like the state title favorite in a wide-open Division II.
Game 3 Saint Ignatius Vs Africentric
Saint Ignatius comes in on a bit of a cold streak after falling to Lutheran West and Walsh Jesuit, two teams that are playing excellent basketball this season. They’ll try and get back on track against an Africentric squad led by Dailyn Swain Dailyn Swain 6'7" | SF Africentric | 2023 State #81 Nation OH , Cortez Freeman Cortez Freeman 6'2" | SG Africentric | 2024 State OH and Preston Steele Preston Steele 6'5" | PF Africentric | 2023 State OH who just dropped 100 on city league rival Walnut Ridge. Swain has been on another level for the Nubians since the start of his Junior season as he attempts to bring a state title to Columbus. For the Wildcats, they’ve started slow but still found ways to end up in Dayton for the final four, can Ace Buckner Ace Buckner 6'1" | PG La Lumiere | 2024 #195 Nation IN , Damon Friery Damon Friery 6'9" | PF Saint Ignatius | 2025 State #97 Nation OH , Reese Robinson, Braydn Szczepaniak Braydn Szczepaniak 6'4" | SF Saint Ignatius | 2023 State OH and company get back on track? We’ll find out in an exciting third game.
Game 4 Lutheran East Vs CVCA
The top level talent in this game is unreal with Darryn Peterson Darryn Peterson 6'5" | CG Huntington Prep | 2025 State #4 Nation WV going against Jesse McCulloch Jesse McCulloch 6'9" | PF Lutheran East | 2024 State #136 Nation OH and Tj Crumble. The Falcons have lots of depth as Cody Head Cody Head 6'1" | CG Lutheran East | 2023 State OH has been playing at a crazy high level, trying to convince Division I programs to offer him. The Falcons also have a ton of size and athleticism to throw at Peterson who recently scored 40 points in a victory.
Game 5 STVM Vs Sierra Canyon (CA)
One of the headliners, it’s Bronny James against his dad’s former high school. This one was a classic when Bronny was a freshman as the Irish had a shot to win it at the buzzer. The Irish are led by 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 Kevin Hamilton Kevin Hamilton 5'8" | PG St Vincent St Mary Hs | 2023 State OH but face a tall task with Bronny James, Isaiah Elohim, Ashton Hardaway and more coming from the west coast to Columbus to battle.
Game 6 Centerville Vs Pickerington Central
The rematch of the state championship game from last season where the Tigers ended the Elks winning streak that spanned a season and a half. Devin Royal Devin Royal 6'6" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State #49 Nation OH is back alongside Gavin Headings Gavin Headings 6'8" | PF Pickerington Central | 2023 State OH , Juwan Turner Juwan Turner 5'10" | PG Pickerington Central | 2024 State OH and some new faces for the Tigers. Centerville returns Gabe Cupps Gabe Cupps 6'1" | PG Centerville | 2023 State #80 Nation OH and added Jonathan Powell Jonathan Powell 6'5" | SG Centerville | 2024 State #164 Nation OH after graduating a majority of their roster from last season. Both teams lost their season opener to non OHSAA competition, Centerville fell to Indy Cathedral while Pickerington Central lost against Spire Academy, both will be looking to prove they are the team to beat in Ohio in 2022-23.