Division I Preseason Power Rankings
Our take on Division I two weeks out from the start of the season
Basketball season is on the horizon in Central Ohio. Here’s where we have the teams stacked up in Division I heading into another exciting season.
1. Reynoldsburg
Record: 26-2
Tournament finish: State runner-up
Top returning players: Xavier McKinney (6’4 Sr. G), Jordie Bowens (6’6 Sr. F), Mekhi Roddy (6’2 So. G), Rashad Perry (6’2 So. G)
The scoop: The Raiders had their season ended by Olentangy Orange for the second-straight season, this time in the state championship. Reynoldsburg returns the most talented starting five in the area, led by Ohio U commits Xavier McKinney and Jordie Bowens. The play of terrific sophomore guard tandem Mekhi Roddy and Rashad Perry will likely determine if this team can get one step further and win it all this year. Reynoldsburg will once again play a challenging non-conference slate to get this team ready for another return to Dayton.
2. Olentangy Orange
Record: 26-2
Tournament finish: State champions
Top returning players: Treyton Schroeder (5’9 Sr. G), Grant Miller (6’7 Jr. F), Xavier Aguila (5’10 Sr. G) Reed Wilson (6’2 Jr. W), Brian Ceol (6’2 Jr. W)
The scoop: Olentangy Orange reached the summit last year, knocking off defending state champion Cleveland St. Ignatius in the state semifinals, before rolling past Reynoldsburg in the final. The Pioneers lost its best player in program history, Devin Brown (Davidson), to graduation, along with three more starters in Keegan Knupp (Eastern Michigan baseball), Ellis Appiah (Denison) and Levi Davis (Ohio football - graduating early). Treyton Schroeder is the lone returning starter, however, junior wing Grant Miller and seniors Xavier Aguila and Reed Wilson will fill a big role for a team that will not take that much of a step back.
3. Newark
Record: 19-5
Tournament finish: District finalist
Top returning players: Jake Quackenbush (6’5 Sr. F), Tybron Brooks (6’0 Jr. G), Ty Gilbert (6’0 Sr. G), Kolton Peterson (5’11 Sr. G)
The scoop: Newark once again reached the district finals, falling to Upper Arlington. The Wildcats return most of last year’s starting lineup, led by senior wing and coach’s son Jake Quackenbush. The guard duo of Tybron Brooks and Ty Gilbert is as good as it gets in the area. Newark will be a major player once again in March and should have a great shot to win another district championship, if not more.
4. Hilliard Bradley
Record: 8-15
Tournament finish: District finalist
Top returning players: Ben Mirgon (6’0 Jr. G), Kypton Norris (6’1 So. G), Jayden Reed-Davis (6’1 So. G), Will Mojica (5’11 Jr. G)
The scoop: Entering the district finals against heavily favored Reynoldsburg at 8-14, Hilliard Bradley was the better team for three quarters before falling in the final frame. The Jags were extremely young last year, but don’t expect them to be pushed around any longer. The guard duo of Ben Mirgon and Kypton Norris (those last names should sound familiar if you’ve paid any attention to Bradley) lead the Jags into a season where they should return back to the standard Bradley ways of the last decade.
5. Dublin Coffman
Record: 14-11
Tournament finish: Regional semifinalist
Top returning players: Gabe Schmidt (6’4 Sr. G), Thomas Cochran (6’7 Jr. F), Charlie Guth (6’0 Jr. G), Luke Muhlenkamp (6’3 So. G), Chethan Singri (5’11 Sr. G)
The scoop: Dublin Coffman got back to its winning ways and captured its first district title since 2018 a season ago. The Rocks are one of the most experienced teams returning, with senior Gabe Schmidt and junior Thomas Cochran leading the way. This will be your typical Coffman team, complete with quality guards, rangy wings, three pointers galore and multi-sport athleticism. Coffman should have a strong shot to go back-to-back.
6. Pickerington Central
Record: 12-12
Tournament finish: District finalist
Top returning players: Landon Evans (6’4 Jr. F), Ryan Donovan (6’4 Sr. F), Ayden Snyder (5’10 Sr G), Aaven Snyder (5’10 Sr G)
The scoop: Since the graduation of Devin Royal, Pickerington Central has taken a step back, which was to be expected with the state of the program at that time. Prior to the last two seasons, Pickerington Central had won at least two tournament games in every single season dating back to 2012. However, it might be back to normal in Tiger Town this year with the team returning for Pickerington Central. Junior wing Landon Evans returns to lead the pack after a successful summer where he became one of the most sough after prospects in the state.
7. Upper Arlington
Record: 14-10
Tournament finish: Regional semifinalist
Top returning players: Hayden Henry (6’1 Sr. G), Brody Larrison (6’5 Sr. F), Luke Mitchell (6’1 Jr. G)
The scoop: After the Golden Bears knocked off Newark in the district finals, on paper, Upper Arlington looked like a lock to be a top three team in the area with who they had coming back. Then 6-foot-9 wunderkid and Ohio State commit Alex Smith departed the program for Prolific Prep, drastically changing the forecast for Upper Arlington. In Smith’s absence, the Golden Bears still have considerable talent, however, it’ll be interesting to see if they can get back to the level that Smith, their best player since Dane Goodwin, had them at.
8. Groveport Madison
Record: 19-7
Tournament finish: Regional runner-up
Top returning players: Tyreke Ruffin (6’0 Sr. G), Ramses Kudolo (6’6 Sr C), Troy Hines Jr (6’2 Sr G), Jordan Wagner (6’3 So G)
The scoop: The 2025 tournament run was Groveport’s best in 40 years, as the Cruisers dramatically upset defending regional champion Delaware Hayes in the district finals before making a run to the regional finals where they fell to eventual state champ Orange. Groveport basketball is at its highest level in a very long time and they should have a strong chance to back-to-back once again. Senior guard Tyreke Ruffin leads a team with enough returning experience to be a team to beat in the tournament. Sophomore guards Jordan Wagner and Jayden Jordan are the future of the program and should have a big impact this season.
9. Pickerington North
Record: 20-4
Tournament finish: District finalist
Top returning players: JR Bates (5’10 Jr. G), Daunte Curtis (6’2 Sr F), Noah Ghebremeskel (6’5 Sr. F), Noah Dumas (5’9 Jr. G)
The scoop: Pickerington North fell short in the district finals last season, as star player and all-time program leading scorer Arness Lawson was unavailable for that game after legal problems kept him out. With Arness off to Duquesne, JR Bates, who was a superstar in the district finals in Lawson’s absence, leads the Panthers into a season where they should still figure to compete atop the OCC. Look for Bates to be one of the area’s leading scorers this season with the load he’ll be expected to carry, as the Panthers don’t have a ton of varsity experience coming back, outside of him and senior forward Daunte Curtis.
10. Olentangy Berlin
Record: 6-17
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Luca Filia (6’2 So G), Colton Less (6’0 Sr G), Jacob Lusk (6’4 Sr F), Owen Inks (6’2 Sr G)
The scoop: Olentangy Berlin is a team that will have a strong chance to flip its record from a season ago. The Bears are a year older and return one of the better cores in all of the area. Led by super sophomore Luca Filia, Berlin will have a chance to win the OCC-Cardinal and win the program’s first district title this season. This is a team on the rise that nobody should be sleeping on.
11. Olentangy
Record: 13-10
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Ty Wallrup (6’1 Sr. G), Jackson Mangham (6’9 Sr. C), Quentin Page (6’4 Sr. G)
One sentence summary: Olentangy will always be scrappy and competitive no matter who is on the roster, fortunately for them they have a nice core returning.
12. Delaware Hayes
Record: 19-5
Tournament finish: District finalist
Top returning players: Jeremiah Russell (6’0 Sr. G), Alex Brown (5’11 Sr. G), Cobe Holmes (5’8 Sr. G)
One sentence summary: Graduating Landon Vanderwarker and Carter Piatt-Brown leaves a major hole to be filled, expect Jeremiah Russell to put up big time numbers.
13. Olentangy Liberty
Record: 21-5
Tournament finish: Regional runner-up
Top returning players: Parker Van Engelenhoven (6’5 Sr. F), Carter Sullivan (6’3 Sr. G), Charlie Hinkle (5’10 Sr. G)
One sentence summary: The prep school bug hit Olentangy Liberty when junior and top returning Jeff Reynolds led for Spire Academy, leaving big shoes for the rest of the team to fill.
14. Grove City
Record: 5-18
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Jake Saxton (5’10 So. G), Nick DeWeese (6’0 Sr G), Jairden Tolliver (6’2 Jr G)
One sentence summary: Sophomore star Jake Saxton leads a program that should greatly improve from last season.
15. Westland
Record: 7-16
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Breaker Heller (6’0 Jr G), Antwon Pollard (6’3 Jr G), Samajey Andrews (6’7 So F)
One sentence summary: The most talented Westland team in over a decade will grace the floor this season as the Cougars have the pieces in the pipeline to be good for years.
16. Lancaster
Record: 11-12
Tournament finish: District finalist
Top returning players: Cam Eaton (6’2 Sr F), Davis Call (6’1 Sr G), Carson Rhymer (6’11 Sr F)
One sentence summary: This may be a year where Lancaster takes a big leap and competes in the top half of the OCC-Buckeye.
17. Gahanna Lincoln
Record: 9-13
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Darek Rivera-Whitfield (5’10 Sr G), Alex Campanelli (6’1 Sr F), Nic Newman (6’4 Sr F)
One sentence summary: Gahanna Lincoln still hasn’t quite yet recovered from the loss of program pillars in Sean Jones and Javan Simmons in 2022, but hope is on the horizon for a resurgence with a talented freshman class.
18. Marysville
Record: 13-10
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Cole Brewer (6’4 Sr F), Drew Chaffin (6’0 Sr G), Brennan Adkins (5’10 Sr G)
One sentence summary: Marysville returns a veteran group led by a quality wing in Brewer, who should help this team compete for wins in the OCC-Cardinal.
19. Hilliard Darby
Record: 19-4
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Kade Romine (6’2 Sr G), Noah Joseph (6’6 Jr F), Colton Miller (6’4 Sr F)
One sentence summary: The best season in decades for Darby ended in the first round, and with it brought a change in leadership as Brent Cahill takes over for Chris Maul, who retired at the end of the marvelous 19 win season.
20. Hilliard Davidson
Record: 10-13
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Seth Hoersten (6’1 Sr. G), Reece Hemmert (6’0 Sr. G)
One sentence summary: If Hilliard Davidson was able to switch conferences with Darby, they would most definitely have more wins every season - the OCC-Central is a very tough draw for the Wildcats.
21. Dublin Jerome
Record: 3-20
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Ethan Wright (6’6 Sr. F), Cooper Craig (6’0 Sr. G), Ryan Kolp (6’1 Sr G)
One sentence summary: Much like Gahanna and Pickerington Central, Jerome has struggled to get back to levels that star players had them at in the early part of the decade.
22. Central Crossing
Record: 7-16
Tournament finish: District semifinalist
Top returning players: Nate Thompson (6’0 Sr G), Gionni Cartwright (6’1 Sr G)
One sentence summary: Vibes are high on the Southwest side as Jamal Hassan takes over a Central Crossing program still looking for its first tournament win in school history.
I think you overlooked Centennial. They have a very young team and unless someone left they should be very good this year after a very successful season last year.