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Pre-Season Power Rankings 2022-2023
Division I
1- Pickerington Central
2- Centerville
3- St. Ignatius
4- St. Vincent-St. Mary
5- Archbishop Hoban
6- Sycamore
7- Mentor
8- Moeller
9- St. Edward
10- Brecksville-Broadview Heights
Honorable Mention: Brush, Dublin Jerome, Fairfield, Garfield Heights, Louisville, Olentangy Orange, Reynoldsburg, Whitmer
It’s difficult to pick against anyone but Pick Central considering they bring back arguably the top guy in the 2023 class (Devin Royal) along with Juwan Turner and Gavin Headings from the state title team last year. Centerville comes in at #2 even with losing 3 starters from the state runner-up team. The Elks still have Gabe Cupps for another year and add Jonathan Powell from C-J to form one heck of a duo. St. Ignatius could be argued higher than the Elks, but Centerville gets the nod to start the year with their previous success. The Wildcats return a solid junior class led by Ace Buckner and Carter Jackson and will have one of the better underclassmen in sophomore Damon Friery. St. V gets the #4 spot with the return of their 3-headed monster in Kevin Hamilton, Lance Hayes, and Darius Stratford. Even with the move to Division !, the Irish are going to be a tough team to beat. Hoban brings back a very good senior class that was a game away from the State Semifinals last year. Jonas Nichols is the headliner for this group. Sycamore will bring back one of the best juniors in Raleigh Burgess and has much of their team back from last year. Mentor is bringing back much of their team led by the Ioppolo brothers (Ryan Ioppolo and Ian Ioppolo). Well coached team that always finds a way to be playing in March. Moeller has a nice group led by AJ McBride (Jr) and Kingston Land (So) that could be a year away from really exploding. St. Ed is another very well coached team and has some really good seniors to guide them led by Cameron Grant and Danny Lavelle. Brecksville-Broadview Heights rounds out the Top 10 having one of the top rising seniors this year in Luke Skaljac coming back.
Division II
1- Buchtel
2- Chaminade-Julienne
3- Bishop Ready
4- Taft
5- St. Mary’s Memorial
6- Gilmour Academy
7- Toledo Central Catholic
8- Lexington
9- CVCA
10- Chaney
Honorable Mention: Alter, Meadowdale, New Philadelphia, Rossford, Shelby, Ursuline
Buchtel debuts as the #1 team as they are returning most of their team from last year. Khoi Thurmon, Christian Harmon, Amire Robinson, and Marcel Boyce all are returning. C-J lost their top guy from a year ago (Jonathan Powell) but added George Washington and Jackson Washington from Kentucky and return Evan Dickey and much of their bench support from a year ago. Bishop Ready moves up to Division II and is without a doubt the best team in Columbus in Division II. Luke Ruth and Kaleb Schaffer are one of the best duos in the state. Taft also moves up a division after winning a state title in Division III last year. The Senators have size and athleticism, which should allow them to again be a force to reckon with in the new division. St. Mary’s Memorial also brings plenty of size and is led by Ohio State commit Austin Parks. The Roughriders should be one of the best teams in NW Ohio. Gilmour was the state runner up in Division II and will return the combo of Desh Molton and Brandon Rose from that team. THe absence of SVSM means Gilmour could get through a District and Regional again, but they don’t have the depth to contend with the higher up teams. Toledo Central Catholic is here because of the total amount of guys they have back from last year. Them staying in this spot depends on when and if Chico Johnson returns from injury. Lexington has success a season ago and brings back their top guy in Baden Forup and one of the better freshmen in Brayden Fogle. THe Minutemen could fly under the radar. CVCA has arguably the best player in this division in Darryn Peterson, but do not have the depth they could have had to be higher than #9. Chaney has been a successful team at the Division II level and will return Josiah Gonzalez back for another season.
Division III
1- Lutheran East
2- Ottawa-Glandorf
3- Africentric
4- Emmanuel Christian
5- Harvest Prep
Honorable Mention: Fairland, Garaway, Minford, Wayne Trace
Lutheran East is the undoubtingly top team as they have the perfect combination of scholarship talent, size, depth, scoring, etc. Jesse McCullough and Cody Head are the top returning players from the State Semifinal finish a year ago, but the additions of Icare Bakadisula from Keystone Academy and freshman TJ Crumble are enough to give the Lue the early spot. O-G has Colin White back along with several other starters from the state runner-up team. Africentric also returns Dailyn Swain and adds Cortez Freeman to give them a Top 5 spot. Emmanuel Christian moves up to Division III and has one of the country’s top 2025 players in Jerry Easter II along with several other young pieces. Harvest Prep is an experienced team that has had postseason success and returns many of those guys, including young star Brandon Roddy.
Division IV
1- Richmond Heights
2- Marion Local
3- Cornerstone Christian
4- River
5- Cardinal Stritch
Honorable Mention: Caldwell, Jackson Center, Lowellville, Wellsville
Richmond Heights is the defending state champions and return Dorian Jones and DeErrick Barber from that team. The addition of Hosea Steele only strengthens that case. Marion Local had a fantastic year and brings back most of those guys. Jack Knapke is the key player to watch as the Flyers will have plenty of size for a Division IV team. Cornerstone combines an elite coach with young core pieces returning. Quinn Kwasniak and DJ Niles both return. River has almost everyone returning from a team that failed to reach the District title. Ty Long is now healthy and this group is experienced. Cardinal Stritch drops down from Division III and has plenty of athleticism and length to battle with any of these teams in the Top 5.
1- Pickerington Central
2- Centerville
3- St. Ignatius
4- St. Vincent-St. Mary
5- Archbishop Hoban
6- Sycamore
7- Mentor
8- Moeller
9- St. Edward
10- Brecksville-Broadview Heights
Honorable Mention: Brush, Dublin Jerome, Fairfield, Garfield Heights, Louisville, Olentangy Orange, Reynoldsburg, Whitmer
It’s difficult to pick against anyone but Pick Central considering they bring back arguably the top guy in the 2023 class (Devin Royal) along with Juwan Turner and Gavin Headings from the state title team last year. Centerville comes in at #2 even with losing 3 starters from the state runner-up team. The Elks still have Gabe Cupps for another year and add Jonathan Powell from C-J to form one heck of a duo. St. Ignatius could be argued higher than the Elks, but Centerville gets the nod to start the year with their previous success. The Wildcats return a solid junior class led by Ace Buckner and Carter Jackson and will have one of the better underclassmen in sophomore Damon Friery. St. V gets the #4 spot with the return of their 3-headed monster in Kevin Hamilton, Lance Hayes, and Darius Stratford. Even with the move to Division !, the Irish are going to be a tough team to beat. Hoban brings back a very good senior class that was a game away from the State Semifinals last year. Jonas Nichols is the headliner for this group. Sycamore will bring back one of the best juniors in Raleigh Burgess and has much of their team back from last year. Mentor is bringing back much of their team led by the Ioppolo brothers (Ryan Ioppolo and Ian Ioppolo). Well coached team that always finds a way to be playing in March. Moeller has a nice group led by AJ McBride (Jr) and Kingston Land (So) that could be a year away from really exploding. St. Ed is another very well coached team and has some really good seniors to guide them led by Cameron Grant and Danny Lavelle. Brecksville-Broadview Heights rounds out the Top 10 having one of the top rising seniors this year in Luke Skaljac coming back.
Division II
1- Buchtel
2- Chaminade-Julienne
3- Bishop Ready
4- Taft
5- St. Mary’s Memorial
6- Gilmour Academy
7- Toledo Central Catholic
8- Lexington
9- CVCA
10- Chaney
Honorable Mention: Alter, Meadowdale, New Philadelphia, Rossford, Shelby, Ursuline
Buchtel debuts as the #1 team as they are returning most of their team from last year. Khoi Thurmon, Christian Harmon, Amire Robinson, and Marcel Boyce all are returning. C-J lost their top guy from a year ago (Jonathan Powell) but added George Washington and Jackson Washington from Kentucky and return Evan Dickey and much of their bench support from a year ago. Bishop Ready moves up to Division II and is without a doubt the best team in Columbus in Division II. Luke Ruth and Kaleb Schaffer are one of the best duos in the state. Taft also moves up a division after winning a state title in Division III last year. The Senators have size and athleticism, which should allow them to again be a force to reckon with in the new division. St. Mary’s Memorial also brings plenty of size and is led by Ohio State commit Austin Parks. The Roughriders should be one of the best teams in NW Ohio. Gilmour was the state runner up in Division II and will return the combo of Desh Molton and Brandon Rose from that team. THe absence of SVSM means Gilmour could get through a District and Regional again, but they don’t have the depth to contend with the higher up teams. Toledo Central Catholic is here because of the total amount of guys they have back from last year. Them staying in this spot depends on when and if Chico Johnson returns from injury. Lexington has success a season ago and brings back their top guy in Baden Forup and one of the better freshmen in Brayden Fogle. THe Minutemen could fly under the radar. CVCA has arguably the best player in this division in Darryn Peterson, but do not have the depth they could have had to be higher than #9. Chaney has been a successful team at the Division II level and will return Josiah Gonzalez back for another season.
Division III
1- Lutheran East
2- Ottawa-Glandorf
3- Africentric
4- Emmanuel Christian
5- Harvest Prep
Honorable Mention: Fairland, Garaway, Minford, Wayne Trace
Lutheran East is the undoubtingly top team as they have the perfect combination of scholarship talent, size, depth, scoring, etc. Jesse McCullough and Cody Head are the top returning players from the State Semifinal finish a year ago, but the additions of Icare Bakadisula from Keystone Academy and freshman TJ Crumble are enough to give the Lue the early spot. O-G has Colin White back along with several other starters from the state runner-up team. Africentric also returns Dailyn Swain and adds Cortez Freeman to give them a Top 5 spot. Emmanuel Christian moves up to Division III and has one of the country’s top 2025 players in Jerry Easter II along with several other young pieces. Harvest Prep is an experienced team that has had postseason success and returns many of those guys, including young star Brandon Roddy.
Division IV
1- Richmond Heights
2- Marion Local
3- Cornerstone Christian
4- River
5- Cardinal Stritch
Honorable Mention: Caldwell, Jackson Center, Lowellville, Wellsville
Richmond Heights is the defending state champions and return Dorian Jones and DeErrick Barber from that team. The addition of Hosea Steele only strengthens that case. Marion Local had a fantastic year and brings back most of those guys. Jack Knapke is the key player to watch as the Flyers will have plenty of size for a Division IV team. Cornerstone combines an elite coach with young core pieces returning. Quinn Kwasniak and DJ Niles both return. River has almost everyone returning from a team that failed to reach the District title. Ty Long is now healthy and this group is experienced. Cardinal Stritch drops down from Division III and has plenty of athleticism and length to battle with any of these teams in the Top 5.