Division II and III Top 10 - Week 1

We release our power rankings for Divisions II and III to begin the season

Small school basketball in Central Ohio is high quality in every sense of the phrase. While the big Division I programs in the Columbus area receive the bulk of the headlines and attention, there is plenty of quality basketball being played in the three divisions below the big boys.

Just last year for example, Central Ohio sent three different teams in D2 and D3 to the state final four, with Bishop Ready, Africentric and Harvest Prep each representing the Central District. While state tournament success has been hard to come by - save for a Harvest Prep state championship in 2019 - small school basketball at the local level is as good as it gets.

On the eve of the basketball season, let’s take a look at our top 10 for Divisions II and III combined. These rankings will change quite often throughout the season and should be a great baseline for some of the top teams to watch.

1. Bishop Ready

Games this week: Saturday vs. Cincinnati Western Hills (Reynoldsburg Livingston)

Bottom line: The Silver Knights won 28-consecutive games last season, entering the state tournament against eventual state champion Akron Buchtel undefeated and unchallenged. Ready lost that game and along with it a senior trio of Luke Ruth, Kaleb Schaffer and Charlie Russell that changed Silver Knights basketball for good. However, this program is still loaded and veteran coach Tony Bisutti has a tough, experienced group ready for another breakout season.

2. Columbus Academy

Games this week: Saturday vs. Northside Christian

Bottom line: Columbus Academy won 23 games last season and advanced to the district finals where they ran into the buzzsaw that was Dailyn Swain and Africentric. The Vikings return their two best players in Theo Falkenhaim and MJ Jackson and have an impact freshman in Caden Ivery.

3. Harvest Prep

Games this week: No games this week

Bottom line: The David Dennis coaching tree continued to expand, as assistant coach Joel Jackson Sr. left to lead the Westland program. It’s never a good idea to count Harvest Prep out, as this program continues to produce successful teams one after another. Harvest Prep has a winning culture and a talented roster led by star junior point guard Brandon Roddy.