OHSAA Division V Preseason Watchlist

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OHSAA season is less than a month from tipping off and we're previewing the top teams in each division to get you prepared for the season. In this article we'll take a look at teams who just missed our top 10 in Division V but are teams to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Bishop Ready</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off another successful season the Silver Knights return 2027 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2125756' first='Michael' last='Daniels'] and while one Schaffer graduates, another walks in the doors. I expect this team to be gritty and play a winning brand of basketball again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Canton Central Catholic</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a strong 2024-25 season, Canton Central Catholic will see some transition this season with the graduation of some key seniors. [player_tooltip player_id='2300366' first='Will' last='Minor'] will be looked to take a major step forward and [player_tooltip player_id='2761875' first='Lance' last='Vlacovsky'] is another name to know after older brother Luke graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Versailles</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The MAC is always a physical basketball conference and Versailles should have some talented football athletes to surround [player_tooltip player_id='2856512' first='Drake' last='Ahrens']. I'll be curious to see if any new names establish themselves for Versailles this winter and if Ahrens can get a capable running mate, they should contend for a district or regional title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Keystone</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You won't find many small school Batman/robin duos better than [player_tooltip player_id='2800799' first='Liam' last='Goran'] and Colton Cowling. The craziest part about this duo? Neither are even seniors! Expect Keystone to go as far as these two can take them but if their role players improve, they are dangerous enough to make a deep run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Genoa</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1708687' first='Ryan' last='Plantz'] had a tremendous summer with the [program_tooltip program_id='2075761' first='Ohio' last='Buckets'] and I was really impressed with him at Midwest live as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2428800' first='Ryan' last='Routson'] is back as a senior point guard with lots of experience. That duo should make Genoa one of the best small town teams in Northwest Ohio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">St Clairsville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a tremendous season last year, the Red Devils graduate some key seniors but return star [player_tooltip player_id='2109839' first='Griffin' last='Straub']. Straub has moments where he looks absolutely unstoppable in eastern Ohio battles but this season the Red Devils can't afford him to have any off nights.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North College Hill</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a bunch of new transfers into the program, there's a lot of buzz around North College Hill. I was impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='2969355' first='Caron' last='Metz'] and a couple other players from the Midwest basketball club fall league. This team could come out of nowhere and contend in a wide open southwest region besides favorite Summit Country Day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->