OHSAA Division I Preseason Rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OHSAA Basketball season tips off soon and Prep Hoops Ohio will be updating rankings for all four Divisions throughout the season. In this article we'll break down the top 10 Division I teams in our preseason rankings. Post your top 10 in our <a href="https://forums.prephoops.com/t/ohsaa-division-i-preseason-rankings/3561" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forum</a> page!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>1. Pickerington Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers are defending state champions and have earned the right to be number one headed into 2022-23. They return [player_tooltip player_id='867951' first='Devin' last='Royal'], one of the top players in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='867940' first='Gavin' last='Headings'] is also back in the fold and [player_tooltip player_id='1359618' first='Braylin' last='Wells'] returns after leaving for Akron Buchtel for one season. [player_tooltip player_id='1222377' first='Juwan' last='Turner'] left over the summer but decided to come back and his return is why Pickerington Central is number one in the rankings. Turner brings a steady presence to a guard room that's filled with guys ready to break out. Among those guards looking to make a bigger impact are [player_tooltip player_id='1419901' first='Markell' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1285266' first='Andrew' last='Hedgepeth'], [player_tooltip player_id='1432022' first='Amare' last='Spiva'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1705956' first='Xavier' last='McKinney']. The Tigers go from the hunter to the hunted, we'll see how they handle this change.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>2. Centerville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Elks lost a ton of production from last year's state runner up squad that was nationally ranked. They do return [player_tooltip player_id='867934' first='Gabe' last='Cupps'] and brought in some reinforcements along the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1222348' first='Jonathan' last='Powell'] comes from Chaminade Julienne and [player_tooltip player_id='1491402' first='Collin' last='O'Connor'] from Tecumseh. They also have depth with a lot of guys ready to contribute who were stuck behind talented seniors last season. The Elks will once again be in the state title hunt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>3. Saint Ignatius</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats have one of the biggest and talented teams in the state. In their frontcourt they have [player_tooltip player_id='1432034' first='Damon' last='Friery'] who could be the breakout player of the season, [player_tooltip player_id='1491436' first='Reece' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1219836' first='Owen' last='Maruca']. Their guards include [player_tooltip player_id='1222353' first='Ace' last='Buckner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1222357' first='Carter' last='Jackson'] plus guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1491439' first='Quinn' last='Woidke'] off the bench. [player_tooltip player_id='1165700' first='Braydn' last='Szczepaniak'] is another great glue piece who helps them win games. This team is deep and has a lot of size, which will play a major part in their success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>4. Akron STVM</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Irish move up to Division I after back-to-back state titles in Division II. They are without the star power they usually have after Malaki Branham and Sencire Harris have both graduated, but [player_tooltip player_id='867938' first='Lance' last='Hayes'], [player_tooltip player_id='867952' first='Darius' last='Stratford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1181712' first='Kevin' last='Hamilton'] have lots of talent and experience. Dru Joyce II is one of the best coaches the state of Ohio has ever seen and will have his team ready for a playoff push with the best of the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>5. Archbishop Moeller</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moeller had a down season for their lofty standards but return a lot of talent in 2022-23. [player_tooltip player_id='1222360' first='AJ' last='McBride'] took huge steps this summer and [player_tooltip player_id='1432033' first='Kingston' last='Land'] is another 2025 prospect ready to make a name for himself. With solid guards with varsity experience from last season, I expect Moeller to once again be one of the top teams in SW Ohio in 2022-23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>6. Sycamore</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1222347' first='Raleigh' last='Burgess'] is one of the top 2024 prospects in the state but Sycamore has a lot of complimentary pieces that make this team so tough to beat. [player_tooltip player_id='1491401' first='Des' last='Bolden'], [player_tooltip player_id='1163469' first='Bryce' last='Darbyshire'], [player_tooltip player_id='1378191' first='Austin' last='Southerland'] and Charlie Hall is a group of seniors with a lot of experience and chemistry playing together. I think the Aves are the favorite in a stacked GMC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>7. Saint Edward</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles seem to always find themselves at the end of the playoff race and last season was no different as their season ended in Dayton. The Eagles have a lot of size with [player_tooltip player_id='1201831' first='Cameron' last='Grant'], [player_tooltip player_id='1163454' first='Danny' last='Lavelle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1383253' first='Wendell' last='Henry'] all returning at the forward position. [player_tooltip player_id='1494504' first='Lucas' last='Perusek'] showed flashes in the summer to take over point guard duties and the Eagles have talent ready to come off the bench and contribute.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>8. Lakota East</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Thunderhawks played some impressive basketball in the summer and have a lot of pieces I like offensively. [player_tooltip player_id='1285295' first='Trey' last='Perry'] is the top prospect on this team and fits exactly what head coach Clint Adkins wants from a point guard. Scoring wings like [player_tooltip player_id='1090160' first='Jack' last='Kronauge'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1225049' first='Julian' last='Mitchell'] will put up buckets and transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1421142' first='Derek' last='Jackson'] is a key piece coming over from Lakota West.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>9. Lima Sr</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top team in NW Ohio year in and year out, the Spartans have a new look to them in 2022-23. Their 2025 class has a lot of talent with [player_tooltip player_id='1432045' first='Jagger' last='Hutchins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1475110' first='Jekel' last='Cotton'] and Isaiah Wilson. The Spartans also have tough senior guards including [player_tooltip player_id='1475105' first='Brandon' last='Moore']. Until dethroned, the NW Ohio Division I playoffs run through Lima.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>10. Dublin Jerome</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Celtics have their most talented team in recent memory this season with a lot of returning production. [player_tooltip player_id='922602' first='Ryan' last='Nutter'], Lachlan MacDonald and [player_tooltip player_id='1090153' first='Luke' last='Kuhlman'] are three seniors who played key roles as Juniors. Combine that with skilled pieces like [player_tooltip player_id='1201837' first='Sasha' last='Stavroff'] and others capable of going off on any given night and it's going to be tough to beat this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Honorable Mention (Alphabetical)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brecksville-Broadview Heights, Brush, Cincinnati Elder, Cleveland Heights, Fairfield, Garfield Heights, Hilliard Bradley, Huber Heights Wayne, Lakota West, Mentor, Olentangy Orange, Reynoldsburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->