D1 Central District Preview

Big Walnut
13-11 (Ohio Capital Conference-Capital

Lost in Sectionals 49-40 to Olentangy Berlin

Who is Back: Trenton Minor (Sr), Conor Watters (Sr), Brody Hatfield (So), Owen Pollock (So)

Who is Gone:

Burning Question: Are the Eagles able to take the next step with experience back?

Outlook: Big Walnut was a younger team a season ago with junior and freshmen leading them. Now a year experienced, could turn some heads with Minor especially taking bigger steps in his game

Delaware Hayes
20-5 (Ohio Capital Conference-Capital)

Lost in District Finals 54-39 to Olentangy Orange

Who is Back: Jesse Burris (Sr)- Ohio commit- 1st Team All District, Landon Vanderwerker (Jr)- D4 District Player of the Year- transfer from Northside Christian, Jake Lowman (Sr), Carter Piatt-Brown (Jr), Chase Griggs (So)

Who is Gone: Hezekiah Russell

Burning Question: Is Vanderwerker the missing piece for the Pacers to get past the District Finals.

Outlook: Hayes returns almost everyone and then added one of the best players in Columbus in Vanderwerker. Not only is this team a favorite in the OCC-Capital, they make a great case to win a District title.

Hilliard Bradley
19-6 (Ohio Capital Conference-Central)

Lost in District Finals 55-43 to Pickerington Central

Who is Back: Cade Norris (Sr)- Illinois State commit- 1st Team All District, Jeb Bischoff (Sr), Ian Abrass (Sr), Gavin Lightning (So)- transfer from Bowling Green (KY), Ben Mirgon (Fr)

Who is Gone: 

Burning Question: Can the Jaguars get over the District/Regional hump?

Outlook: Bradley is going to be one of the best teams in Columbus this year with Norris leading their backcourt. Easily can win a District title and makes a case to get to Dayton.

Marysville
10-13 (Ohio Capital Conference-Cardinal)

Lost in Sectionals 68-40 to Hilliard Bradley

Who is Back: Jason Moore (Sr)- Ashland commit, 3rd Team All District, Ryker Bowman (Sr), CJ Collins (Jr)- transfer from Dublin Coffman

Who is Gone: Connor Smith

Burning Question: Are the Lions ready to compete in the OCC?

Outlook: Marysville has size and experience and added one of the best shooters in Central Ohio with Collins. Lions could be a sleeper in Central Ohio this season

New Albany
9-13 (Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio)

Lost in Sectionals 58-36 to Newark

Who is Back: Braylen Nash (Sr)- 3rd Team All District, Miles Jackson (Jr), Marco Mattucci (So)

Who is Gone: Will Powell

Burning Question: Can Coach Casey continue the strong showing in the Summer?

Outlook: Tim Casey takes over as the coach for the Eagles and has a good core returning. New Albany should be improved after excelling over the Summer, but is going to face challenges battling with the other teams in the District.

Newark
19-8 (Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye)

Lost in Regional Semifinals 64-38 to Olentangy Orange

Who is Back: Steele Meister (Sr)- Findlay commit, Ethan Stare (Sr), Braylon Morris (Jr)

Who is Gone: Grant Burkholder (2nd Team All District)

Burning Question: Do the Wildcats replace Burkholder and return to Regionals?

Outlook: One of the most consistent programs in the state, Newark is returning a good core of players from a Regional qualifier last year and should again be one of the area’s best teams

Northland
14-8 (Columbus City League-North)

Lost in Sectionals 59-58 to Reynoldsburg

Who is Back: King Kendrick (So), Nehemiah McMorris (Jr)- transfer from Gahanna Lincoln, Jaden Shoultz (So)- transfer from Wellington School.

Who is Gone: Davion Bridges

Burning Question: Is the addition of McMorris and Shoultz enough to get the Vikings momentum come tournament?

Outlook: Northland will again be one of the best teams in the Columbus City League, but need Kendrick to really take another step if they are going to get past the large amount of OCC teams contending this year.

Olentangy Orange
21-4 (Ohio Capital Conference-Central)

Lost in Regional Finals 57-53 to Pickerington Central

Who is Back: Devin Brown (Jr), Dylan Joy (Sr), Levi Davis (So)

Who is Gone: Elias Lewis (All District), Mikey McCollum, Jordan Edwards, Nick Chapman, Jacob Zingg

Burning Question: Do the Pioneers replace such a successful departed senior class?

Outlook: Orange is losing quite a class, but their underclassmen a year ago were standouts with Brown and Davis leading the charge as potential breakout candidates.

Pickerington Central
24-6 (Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye)

Lost in State Finals 53-47 to Archbishop Hoban

Who is Back: Juwan Turner (Sr), Braylin Wells (Sr), Amare Spiva (Jr), Mondale Bradley Jr (Jr)- transfer from Pickerington North, Landon Evans (Fr)

Who is Gone: Devin Royal (District Player of the Year), Gavin Headings, Andrew Hedgepath, Markell Johnson, Xavier McKinney-transfer to Reynoldsburg

Burning Question: How do the Tigers replace the district player of the year and 2 other starters?

Outlook: Pick Central always competes and finds a way to keep with the top teams. Turner is going to need to really be a leader for the Tigers to get back to Dayton.

Pickerington North
19-7 (Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio)

Lost in District Semifinals 44-40 to Delaware Hayes

Who is Back: Arness Lawson (Jr) 2nd Team All District, Mykell Murphy (Jr), Favor McFadden (Jr), JR Bates (So)
Who is Gone: Jeff Amapps, Mondale Bradley- transfer to Pickerington Central

Burning Question: Is North a year away, or can they crash the party this year?

Outlook: Having a player like Lawson will make the Panthers a tough out every night, but they likely are a year away from getting back to the District Finals.

Reynoldsburg
12-12 (Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye)

Lost in Sectionals 76-73 to Delaware Hayes

Who is Back: Noah Smith (Sr)- Tiffin commit, Jordan Fisher (Jr), Toby Nwokolo (Jr), Jordan Bowens (So), Xavier McKinney (So)- transfer from Pickerington Central

Who is Gone: 

Burning Question: Can the Raiders stay healthy and take advantage of their talent on the roster?

Outlook: The Raiders have 4 D1 prospects on their roster and have one of the deepest rosters in the area. If they can stay healthy, Reynoldsburg can be a contender to Dayton.

Walnut Ridge
7-15 (Columbus City League-South)

Lost in Sectionals 58-44 to Westerville South

Who is Back: Dom Aekins (Sr)- Duquesne commit- 1st Team All District, LJ Foster (Sr)- transfer from Mifflin, Bryden Hodge (Jr),  Marquis Lucas (So)- transfer from Linden McKinley, Deon Johnson (Fr)

Who is Gone: 

Burning Question: Is the addition of Johnson and the transfers enough to help Aekins?

Outlook: Aekins is one of the best players in Central Ohio and now has guys around him through transfer and adding Johnson. Scots should be one of the best teams in their division.

​Westerville Central
13-9 (Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio)

Lost in Sectionals 53-50 (2OT) to Hilliard Davidson

Who is Back: Devin Martin (Sr), Nick Patton (Sr), Dallas Tucker (Sr), Isaiah Brown (Sr), Josh Henderson (Jr), Maceo Harper (So)

Who is Gone: Buba Bangura

Burning Question: Do the Warhawks have the experience to compete with the amount of talent returning in Columbus?

Outlook: The Warhawks have quite a few standout players and a strong overall core that they should be one of the better teams in Central Ohio as a whole

Westville North
22-3 (Ohio Capital Conference-Capital)

Lost in District Semifinals 60-55 to Westerville South

Who is Back: Micah Young (Jr)- 3rd Team All District, Tai Perkins (Jr), Eyon Robinson (Sr), Navarion Adams (Sr), Tyson Perkins (Fr)

Who is Gone: Carter Reese- 1st Team All District, Jordan Graham, Rex Mbouge

Burning Question: Can North avenge the early postseason exit last year?

Outlook: On paper, this is one of the most talented teams in Central Ohio. With Young and Perkins leading the backcourt, the Warriors make the best case to contend for a Regional title and could make a serious case to reach Dayton.

Westerville South
21-6 (Ohio Capital Conference-Capital)

Lost in Regional Semifinals 59-51 to Pickerington Central

Who is Back: Kruz McClure (Jr)- 2nd Team All District, Tyler Kielmeyer (Jr), Amari Hodges (Jr)

Who is Gone: Jadi Cunningham, Jujuan Ray, Jalen Wheeler

Burning Question: Is South on pace for a multiyear run?
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Outlook: The Wildcats got to the Regionals a year ago and are returning a strong group of guys led by McClure, and are looking like a program that can put together another run this year.