OHSAA Division IV Preseason Top 5
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In this article:
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.