Shane’s Preseason Top 7 Central Ohio Teams
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This season tips off this week and it is my time to come out with my preseason rankings of the top 7 teams in the Central Ohio area. 1. Delaware Hayes Hayes is a team with a high ceiling and…
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Continue ReadingThis season tips off this week and it is my time to come out with my preseason rankings of the top 7 teams in the Central Ohio area.
1. Delaware Hayes
Hayes is a team with a high ceiling and a high floor. They already had a very good team with the 10th-best senior in the state, according to PrepHoops Ohio, but they have added the 9th-best junior in the state. Senior Jesse Burris Jesse Burris 6'4" | SF Delaware Hayes | 2024 State #297 Nation OH and Junior Landon Vanderwarker Landon Vanderwarker 6'7" | PF Delaware Hayes | 2025 State OH are the top duo in Central Ohio and possibly the state. They both play different positions but have similar games. Ohio commits Burris is more of a guard that has great touch in the midrange. He is a midrange assassin who just gets to his spots and makes you pay. He will give you 20 points no matter what. Vanderwalker is very similar because his game is equally as tough to stop. He is a 6’7 forward with a big strong frame. He is an explosive athlete who can play inside and out. He is a really good finisher around the rim. This duo will be tough to match up with for anyone. They also have other role players that will be important for this team to take them to the next level like Senior Jake Lowman Jake Lowman 6'4" | SF Delaware Hayes | 2024 State OH , Junior Carter Piatt-Brown Carter Piatt-Brown 6'3" | SF Delaware Hayes | 2025 State OH , and Sophomore Chase Griggs Chase Griggs 5'11" | CG Delaware Hayes | 2026 OH .
2. Hilliard Bradley
Bradley has a ton of offseason hype coming into this season with good reason. They have a TON of talent. This is headlined by senior guard and Illonis State commit Cade Norris Cade Norris 6'3" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH . Norris is a senior leader that you want if you want your team to go far. He plays the game the right way. He has a high IQ and great communicator. This will be huge when Bradley goes to the places they want. Alongside other Seniors Jeb Bischoff Jeb Bischoff 6'0" | SG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH , Ian Abrass Ian Abrass 6'2" | SG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH , and Duncan Spalding Duncan Spalding 6'6" | C Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH . Bischoff is a bucket getter. This a senior-led team with great coaching, a recipe for success. Other really good role players like Junior Garrett Sever Garrett Sever 6'2" | SG Hilliard Bradley | 2025 State OH and Sophomores Gavin Lighting and Jordan Reed-Davis Jordan Reed-Davis 5'9" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2026 OH . This shows their great depth. Then they have a high-level freshman coming in with Ben Mirgon Ben Mirgon 6'1" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2027 State OH . This kid has a chance to be special. He has an IQ beyond his years and can be a big-time player for this team.
3. Reynoldsburg
Reynoldsburg is another team in Central Ohio benefitting from a ton of talent. Their trio of Junior Jordan Fisher Jordan Fisher 6'5" | SF Reynoldsburg | 2025 State #392 Nation OH and Sophomores Jorden Bowens Jorden Bowens 6'6" | PF Reynoldsburg | 2026 State OH and transfer Xavier McKinney Xavier McKinney 6'3" | CG Reynoldsburg | 2026 State OH . This three-headed monster is going to be a lot to deal with and match up with. McKinney is the 6’1 guard with a ton of potential. He is a long guard with good athletic ability that will have a bigger role in his new school. Fellow sophomore Bowens is coming off a great freshman year. He is a fearless high-flying forward who is consistent. He does a lot of dirty work too and a monster on the boards. The head of the snake is the very talented Junior Jordan Fisher Jordan Fisher 6'5" | SF Reynoldsburg | 2025 State #392 Nation OH . He is a long wing that can core in bushes from all three levels. These three have Reynoldsburg locked and loaded to go for a good season.
4. Pickerington North
Pick North has the team ready to go for a long run this year. Arness Lawson Arness Lawson 6'1" | PG Pickerington North | 2025 State #306 Nation OH is entering his third year as a varsity player. He is going to take Pick North as far as he can. He is getting more athletic and skilled but seems to be understanding his role as the controller of this team. This will be vital for the Panthers’ success this year. He will be with a snipper and high-energy player JR Bates JR Bates 5'9" | PG Pickerington North | 2026 OH going into his sophomore year. Bates will be getting real minutes this year after just being an energy player off the bench. Favor McFadden Favor McFadden 6'3" | SF Pickerington North | 2025 State OH has impressed scouts this preseason so far with his athleticism and effort. He is the type of player Coach Jason Bates gets the best out of. I expect him and the other role players to have good years.
5. Northland
Northland is coming off an impressive season last year with phenom and now sophomore King Kendrick King Kendrick 5'10" | PG Northland | 2026 State OH running the show. This kid is flat-out incredible. He has gone viral for shooting the ball with both hands but he does more than just that. He led Northland to City League Championship last year and they look to repeat the same this year. Kendrick will be coming into this season improved and with more confidence. They have also added 6’7 Junior transfer Nehemiah McMorris Nehemiah McMorris 6'7" | C Northland | 2025 State OH . This kid is an athletic freak. He is tall, long, and strong which leads him to being a mismatch in the City league this year. I expect the Vikings to have another big year.
6. Westerville North
The Warriors come into this season with great guard talent and a hot year last year. Their Junior duo of guards Tai Perkins Tai Perkins 5'11" | PG Westerville North | 2025 State OH and Micah Young Micah Young 6'1" | CG Westerville North | 2025 State OH will be big-time players this year for them. They both bring different tools to the table for them. Seniors Na’Varion Adams Na’Varion Adams 6'5" | C Westerville North | 2024 State OH and Elon Robinson will be players this team leans on for experience and leadership. Adams is a high-flying and athletic freak who can do it all and match up with anyone. This will play a vital role for the Warriors to have a big year. The big question mark is who will be the scorer for this team but with their talent, I do not think it will be one player but multiple.
7. Walnut Ridge
Walnut Ridge will be the other team in the Columbus City League that will be a force. With Senior guard Dom Aikens running the show, this makes WR a showtime team. Aikens is an electric player that can go off on any team at any moment. He is a lightning-quick guard with great athleticism and confidence. Then he will be teamed up with the real deal incoming freshman Deon Johnson Deon Johnson 6'3" | PG Walnut Ridge | 2027 State OH at the other guard/wing position. This kid is a bucket-getter. He can score it from all three levels with ease and has that dog mentality to him. These two will be tough to stop because they have the potential to give you 40 on any given night. The Scots will be a fun team to watch this year.
Honorable Mentions (Alphabetical Order): Bishop Hartley, Harvest Prep, Newark, Olentangy Orange, Pickerington Central, and Upper Arlington