OHSAA Division IV Preseason Top 5
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The OHSAA season tips off December 1st and we’ll be giving our readers all the info they need to know to prepare for the start of the 2023-24 season. In each Division, we’ll be breaking down the top teams that…
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Continue ReadingThe OHSAA season tips off December 1st and we’ll be giving our readers all the info they need to know to prepare for the start of the 2023-24 season. In each Division, we’ll be breaking down the top teams that we think have a chance to make it all the way to Dayton. In this article, we start in Division IV where a lot of familiar faces start at the top.
1. Richmond Heights
The unquestioned top team in the state in Division IV, the Spartans are playing a schedule with national prep powerhouses after going unbeaten in 2022-23 and finishing with their second consecutive state championship. They return their entire starting five of De’Erick Barber De’Erick Barber 5'11" | PG Richmond Heights | 2025 State #268 Nation OH , Demarris Winters Jr Demarris Winters Jr 6'3" | SG Richmond Heights | 2025 State OH , Dorian Jones Dorian Jones 6'4" | SG Richmond Heights | 2025 State #61 Nation OH , Hosea Steele Hosea Steele 6'4" | SF Richmond Heights | 2024 State OH and Jeremy Wilson Jeremy Wilson 6'5" | PF Richmond Heights | 2024 State OH . The Spartans also added transfer Tj Crumble to further bolster their frontcourt. The Spartans are prohibitive favorites to lift another state championship this season.
2. Russia
In the state semifinals, Russia didn’t back down from Richmond Heights and gave them all they could handle for a majority of the game. They return lots of key pieces from last years squad and players like Hayden Quinter Hayden Quinter 6'2" | SF Russia | 2024 OH , Braylon Cordonnier Braylon Cordonnier 6'4" | PF Russia | 2025 OH and Benjamin York Benjamin York 6'4" | SF Russia | 2025 State OH returning, expect Russia to be a tough out once again this season.
3. Marion Local
Another team that’s made deep playoff runs yearly with even a couple state titles this century, Marion Local will be a tough out once again. Led by two bigs in Jack Knapke Jack Knapke 6'8" | C Marion Local | 2024 State OH and Austin Niekamp Austin Niekamp 6'8" | PF Marion Local | 2025 State OH , the guard play will determine how far Marion Local goes this season.
4. Patrick Henry
A team Marion Local ended their season, I think Patrick Henry could have a chance to get revenge this March. With Lincoln Creager Lincoln Creager 6'2" | SG Patrick Henry | 2025 State OH and Mack Hieber Mack Hieber 6'6" | SF Patrick Henry | 2026 OH leading the way, they have more experience than they had in a district title winning season last year.
5. Troy Christian
After a great 2022-23 year, Troy Christian is back with star senior duo of Parker Penrod Parker Penrod 5'9" | PG Troy Christian | 2024 State OH and Frank Rupnik. One of the oldest teams in the state, five of their six leading scorers last year were Juniors. With all that talent returning, expect even more from Troy Christian this season.