OHSAA Division I Watchlist: NE

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OHSAA basketball season is a couple weeks away and in this article we'll break down five teams in the northeast region that didn't quite make our Division I preseason top 10 but are right on the cusp of being in our rankings and will be closely monitored all season long.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Elyria</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most talented team in the SWC, Elyria hit their stride last season and didn't look back. While they lose a couple of talented seniors, [player_tooltip player_id='2204949' first='Kendyll' last='Compton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2854861' first='Cameron' last='Bell'] are returning senior starters who should help the Pioneers stay atop the conference and potentially make a deeper playoff run than last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mentor</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals are once again one of the youngest teams in northeast Ohio and will surely have nights where they don't get enough stops to hang around but I can promise the Cardinals will play an exciting brand of basketball for 32 minutes straight. [player_tooltip player_id='2890893' first='Jack' last='Kennedy'] is the engine to their offense standing at just 5'9 but Kennedy is lightning fast and gets to the rim at will. Neutral basketball fans across northeast Ohio will want to go out of their way to catch a Cardinals game this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Massillon Jackson</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Polar Bears had a terrific senior class in 2025 and the loss of those players will be tough to overcome this winter but Massillon Jackson doesn't accept rebuilding seasons and will expect to contend for the federal league crown once again. [player_tooltip player_id='2433317' first='Kaiden' last='Loy'] is one of the more talented shot makers in the state and stood out on the Prep Hoops Circuit this summer. Add in star freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2842364' first='Mason' last='Morris'] and the Polar Bears have enough talent to win some marquee matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Berea Midpark</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Few teams allow a freshman class to define their program like Berea Midpark did with their talented 2027 class. Those players are now juniors and they are the unquestioned leaders of the team with Nick Reese, [player_tooltip player_id='2288542' first='Tyson' last='Clay'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2125761' first='Reid' last='Braaten'] leading the way. The Titans are another team that plays a fast-paced, fun style of basketball. I always leave exhausted after taking notes on Berea-Midpark prospects because of the frantic pace of play and something always happening on the court.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toledo Whitmer</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two Division I teams from northwest Ohio are grouped into the northeast region for the playoffs so I included the Panthers in this grouping. With a new head coach and the graduation of two Division I commits from the 2025 class (Antione West Jr - Purdue and Makhi Leach - Bowling Green) the Panthers team looks very different than it did a season ago. [player_tooltip player_id='2309692' first='Andre' last='Young III'] is now the leader at both ends of the court for the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->