OHSAA Division I Playoff Preview: Region 3 (Central)
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The OHSAA playoffs start this week and it’s time to preview each of the Divisions to see which teams are most likely to make it to Dayton. In this article we’ll be previewing Region 3, which is in Division I…
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Continue ReadingThe OHSAA playoffs start this week and it’s time to preview each of the Divisions to see which teams are most likely to make it to Dayton. In this article we’ll be previewing Region 3, which is in Division I and the central region.
The favorite
Olentangy Orange: The top seed in the central region has managed through a tough regular season schedule with only one loss. Devin Brown Devin Brown 6'5" | SF Olentangy Orange | 2025 State OH has taken the leap into stardom and their new faces on varsity have fit in immediately.
Contenders
Delaware Hayes: 1A and 1B in this region on paper is Orange and Delaware Hayes. I felt like Orange had like one or two more marquee wins but pick your poison on which team is the favorite. With the Division I talent of Jesse Burris Jesse Burris 6'4" | SF Delaware Hayes | 2024 State #297 Nation OH and Landon Vanderwarker Landon Vanderwarker 6'7" | PF Delaware Hayes | 2025 State OH plus size and shooting across the board, Hayes is a tough out.
Hilliard Bradley: They fell twice to Olentangy Orange but the Jags are always a tough playoff out. The Norris-Mirgon connection is a familiar one in Central Ohio and this is the lone year Cade Norris Cade Norris 6'3" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2024 State OH and Ben Mirgon Ben Mirgon 6'1" | PG Hilliard Bradley | 2027 State OH can share the court together. Can Cade finally make it to Dayton and lift the regional championship? This might be the best team of his career this season.
Reynoldsburg: It was a bit surprising to see Reynoldsburg join Olentangy Orange in their district but the rest of the district is very weak after those two teams. The Raiders have faced one of the toughest schedules in Ohio and have four Division I recruits in Jordan Fisher Jordan Fisher 6'5" | SF Reynoldsburg | 2025 State #392 Nation OH , Toby Nwokolo Toby Nwokolo 6'6" | PF Reynoldsburg | 2025 State OH , Jorden Bowens Jorden Bowens 6'6" | PF Reynoldsburg | 2026 State OH and Xavier McKinney Xavier McKinney 6'3" | CG Reynoldsburg | 2026 State OH .
Sleepers
Pickerington Central: The only team to beat Olentangy Orange, I was a little surprised they didn’t like their chances in a rematch. Braylin Wells Braylin Wells 6'7" | C Pickerington Central | 2024 State OH and Amare Spiva Amare Spiva 6'1" | CG Pickerington Central | 2025 State OH are big time upperclassmen talents and freshman Landon Evans Landon Evans 6'2" | SG Pickerington Central | 2027 State OH has grown into his role as the season moves on. They could give Westerville North some trouble in a district semifinal.
Thomas Worthington: Okay hear me out here, they play at third seeded New Albany and potentially fifth seeded Newark. They recently beat Olentangy Berlin and Olentangy. They have a Junior in Julian Johnson Julian Johnson 5'10" | PG Thomas Worthington | 2025 State OH who can take over a game and senior Shaheem Nieves Shaheem Nieves 6'3" | SF Thomas Worthington | 2024 State OH is an impact defender. I wouldn’t pick them to beat New Albany, but crazier things have happened.
Big Walnut: The side of the bracket with the most wildcards is the bottom of central 3. With teams like Gahanna, Northland, Walnut Ridge and Grove City. Any of these teams could make a district final. Big Walnut has an interim coach but the senior talent of Conor Watters Conor Watters 6'6" | SF Big Walnut | 2024 State OH and Trenton Minor Trenton Minor 6'4" | PF Big Walnut | 2024 State OH is enough where they might see themselves playing on Saturday at ODU.