OHSAA Preseason DI Watchlist: NE

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're breaking down the top candidates in each Division with a region by region look at Division I before we release our top 10 teams. In this article we'll take a look at some northeast Ohio teams that just missed our top 10, but we'll be keeping our eye on them all season long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saint Edward</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Usually the Eagles would find themselves in the top 10 and maybe I'll look foolish having them just missing out top 10 by the end of the season. Once again the Eagles have a lot of upperclassmen talent who either have experience or have waited their turn to shine at the varsity level. Eric Flannery has shown he can win regardless of the talent level of his team and despite not having any top recruits on the current roster, the Eagles are always a tough playoff out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Akron STVM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another historic program that's in maybe a rebuilding year, but a rebuilding year for the Irish is still one of the top teams in northeast Ohio. With a strong 2025 class, I'd expect the Irish to be a better team by the end of the season and they could be scary next year. With [player_tooltip player_id='1691977' first='John' last='Whorton'] as a breakout candidate next to transfer guard [player_tooltip player_id='1742316' first='Noah' last='Chambers'], there's still enough talent for Dru Joyce II to work with this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brunswick</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a pair of Division II commits in [player_tooltip player_id='2047487' first='Quinn' last='Barnett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1708729' first='Tommy' last='Morgan'], Brunswick has senior talent to surround one of the top underclassmen guards in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='1708688' first='Trey' last='Drexler']. Always one of the top shooting teams in the area, when Brunswick is hitting shots, they are tough to beat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brecksville-Broadview Heights</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1148120' first='Luke' last='Skaljac'] will get all the headlines as a Mr Basketball candidate, but this team will only go as far as their supporting cast, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1432057' first='Brady' last='Ganley'] and transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1691983' first='Junior' last='Kambomba'] take them. After a heartbreaking playoff loss last season, the Bees will once again be one of the top teams in northeast Ohio and hungry to go further than last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Louisville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team just a few students from being in Division II, Louisville is taking the challenge of Division I to heart and scheduling some tough opponents to prepare them for the playoff grind. While they lost Will Aljancic to graduation, [player_tooltip player_id='1462979' first='Hayden' last='Nigro'] is back as a senior alongside 2025 duo [player_tooltip player_id='1540136' first='Beau' last='Siegfried'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1540137' first='Brayden' last='Gross']. Can the Leopards shake up the district playoffs this season? Time will tell.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->