OHSAA Division I Preseason 1-3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OHSAA basketball season starts a week from today and Prep Hoops has spent the past month previewing each Division with a top 10 list and watchlist of additional teams to watch. In this article we'll break down the top 3 teams in Division I. This list is especially important because last season our number 1 ranked team beat our number 3 ranked team in the Division I state championship at the end of the season. Could that happen again with two teams in our top 3 making it to the state title game? Only time will tell, but we think these teams have the best chance of making it to Dayton at the end of the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Lakota West</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think most people you talk to heading into the season believe Lakota West is the most complete team in the state of Ohio. With a stud 2027 duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2125748' first='Joshua' last='Tyson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140178' first='Bryce' last='Curry'] leading the way with size on the interior with [player_tooltip player_id='2842421' first='Roman' last='Combs'], Jordan Navarez, [player_tooltip player_id='2571856' first='Griffin' last='Long'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2620373' first='Brayden' last='Goldner'] all standing above 6'5 as well as sharpshooters like [player_tooltip player_id='2807217' first='Eli' last='Dunn'] on the wing, Lakota West doesn't have a clear weakness. With only two seniors on the roster, [player_tooltip player_id='2445460' first='Tyson' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2675715' first='Cody' last='Crawford'], the Firebirds will be younger than a lot of teams they play but their junior class has already helped lead a regional title run. With a tough GMC slate as well as some marquee non-conference games that include La Lumiere at Flyin' To The Hoop, you'll be hearing a lot about Lakota West this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Brunswick</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A team that has been so close so many times, this might be the year for Brunswick to break through and finally win a region in Division I under Joe Macey. The Blue Devils have been a guard factory and their senior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1708688' first='Trey' last='Drexler'] (IU Indy) and [player_tooltip player_id='2288543' first='Sean' last='Barnett'] (Flagler) is as good as it gets in Ohio. The Blue Devils will miss Aidan Shaker in the paint, but if they can take a rebounding by committee approach, I think they'll be just fine thanks to the abundance of offensive talent on their roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Saint Ignatius</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 state champions and for my money, the second best team in the state last season, Cam Joyce built the Wildcat program into arguably the best in all of Ohio. He left for California which allows Tom Parker to take over after years on the bench as an assistant coach for the Wildcats. He's inheriting a talented roster with Akron commit [player_tooltip player_id='2458387' first='Rj' last='Jones'] and unsigned senior [player_tooltip player_id='2461888' first='Alex' last='Mack'] leading the way. Saint Ignatius also has talented young pieces like [player_tooltip player_id='2891904' first='Carlos' last='Vaughn Jr'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3043989' first='Denahi' last='Melton'] ready to contribute at the varsity level after starring on the JV team last season. I don't expect much of a drop off, if any for Saint Ignatius this season with all the talent in their program and the winning culture remaining just with a new voice leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->