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Greater Akron high school boys basketball | 5 questions with 2023-24 season underway

michael beaven, akron beacon journal
·5 min read
Buchtel Stevie Diamond, facing, attempts a three over Bishop Ready forward Kaleb Schaffer during the first half of a Division II state semifinal basketball game at UD Arena, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Dayton, Ohio.
Buchtel Stevie Diamond, facing, attempts a three over Bishop Ready forward Kaleb Schaffer during the first half of a Division II state semifinal basketball game at UD Arena, Friday, March 17, 2023, in Dayton, Ohio.

The 2023-2024 high school boys basketball season started last Friday with games across Ohio.

Two of the four reigning state champions reside in Akron after Archbishop Hoban won the Division I title and Buchtel won the Division II crown at the University of Dayton Arena in March.

Several other area teams also had memorable seasons last season and are seeking to make a postseason run this season.

Here are five questions about the season:

Hoban guard Jonas Nichols, left, drives to the basket against St. John's Jesuit's Joseph Taylor during the first half of a Division I state semifinal basketball game at UD Arena, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Dayton, Ohio.
Hoban guard Jonas Nichols, left, drives to the basket against St. John's Jesuit's Joseph Taylor during the first half of a Division I state semifinal basketball game at UD Arena, Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Dayton, Ohio.

Who will lead reigning OHSAA boys basketball state champions Hoban and Buchtel?

Hoban went 26-3 last season and returns two starters: senior Jonas Nichols and sophomore Sam Greer. Nichols has signed to play basketball at Kent State and Greer has multiple college scholarship offers for football and basketball.

Knights coach T.K. Griffith is also counting on seniors Joey Hardman and Josh Greer and juniors Kenny Scot, Kamran Ensley, James McCarthy and Deron "Bub" Jennings. Scott transferred in from GlenOak.

Junior Stevie Diamond is the lone returning starter for Buchtel (23-6, 10-1), who is also the defending City Series champion.

Griffins coach Rayshon Dent has seven returning lettermen in seniors Diaire Pride Jr., Qi'Marreon Marks, Dakota Taylor and Damien Johnson and juniors Demetrice Coates, Arman Gable and Diamond.

Buchtel also has three interesting newcomers: 6-3 senior Zevin Gadson, 6-2 junior Moustapha Ndao and 6-6 freshman forward Kayden Simpson. Gadson returned to Buchtel after one season at Firestone.

Sophomore reserve Mal'si Pearson left Buchtel and transferred to Division III state champion Lutheran East.

Green's Brady Rollyson goes to the hoop with defense from Lake's Caleb Collins in the second half at Green, Friday, January 27, 2023.
Green's Brady Rollyson goes to the hoop with defense from Lake's Caleb Collins in the second half at Green, Friday, January 27, 2023.

Can Green, Revere, Brecksville, Walsh Jesuit and CVCA repeat as league champs?

Green (17-7, 9-3) shared the the Federal League title with Jackson last season and returns senior starters Brady Rollyson, Jarrett Taylor, Luke Jansen and Lucas Bitong. Rollyson is an Ohio State baseball recruit.

Bulldogs coach Mark Kinsley said junior Antonio Martin is back from a knee injury that sidelined him all of last season, and senior Samino Manson will also play a key role.

Revere's Carson Banks goes to the basket between Cuyahoga Falls' Justin Wilkes and Joey Earl on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.
Revere's Carson Banks goes to the basket between Cuyahoga Falls' Justin Wilkes and Joey Earl on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023.

Revere (19-5, 12-2) is the defending Suburban League American Conference champion under coach Dean Rahas.

The Minutemen will be led by seniors Carson Banks, Conner Groce, Greg Cochran and Evan Oravecz and juniors Mason Aquino and Uriah Rodeman and Christian Rached.

Brecksville (21-4, 11-1) topped the Suburban League National Conference last season and coach Steve Mehalik has another talented team with Luke Skaljac, Brady Ganley, Junior Kambomba, Kyle Keener and Ben Mehendale.

Skaljac is a Miami of Ohio basketball recruit. Kambomba is a transfer from Division II state runner-up Lutheran West.

Walsh Jesuit's Sean Spicer looks to shoot as Stow's Titus Baskerville IV and A.J. Pestello, Jr. look on during the Div. I regional semifinal boys basketball game at The Kent State University MAC center on Wednesday in Kent. Walsh beat Stow 63-61 in overtime.
Walsh Jesuit's Sean Spicer looks to shoot as Stow's Titus Baskerville IV and A.J. Pestello, Jr. look on during the Div. I regional semifinal boys basketball game at The Kent State University MAC center on Wednesday in Kent. Walsh beat Stow 63-61 in overtime.

Joe Wojcik is Walsh Jesuit's new coach after Kevin Byrne left to take over the Gilmour Academy's girls program. Wojcik previously was Firestone and East's boys coach.

WJ (20-8, 6-0) won Division I district and Crown Conference championships last season.

The Warriors return 10 senior letter winners. Tyler Bell and Sean Spicer were regular starters, and Jesse James, Joe Sitarz, Nick Mitchell, Sean Pakiela, Sam Weber, Quinn McKiernan, Xavier Fernandez and Andrew Brooks were reserves.

CVCA (18-7, 14-0) moves forward without Darryn Peterson, who transferred to Huntington Prep during the summer. The Royals won the PAC-7 title and were a Division II district runner-up last season.

Royals coach Matt Futch has two returning starters in junior Niles Nuru and sophomore Joey Kopec. Expect sophomores Charley Levak and Connor Gray and seniors LaVelle Sharpe Jr. and Hayden Grant to step into larger roles.

STVM guard Jayson Walker attempts a layup during the first half of a basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
STVM guard Jayson Walker attempts a layup during the first half of a basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

What is new at St. Vincent-St. Mary and Western Reserve Academy?

STVM (19-7) returns seniors Jayson Walker, SirCharles Gordon and Michael Walter, junior John Whorton and senior twins Daniel Ajose and David Ajose off last season's team that made a Division I district semifinal appearance.

Irish coach Dru Joyce II said he expects sophomores Leigh Cotton, Rayshawn Hamilton and DeCarlo Prince to make an impact with junior Shaker Heights transfer Noah Chambers and 6-5 freshman Aiden Monroe.

WRA features 6-9 junior Nikola Bundalo (a Green transfer), 6-8 senior Damarius Owens from Rochester, New York and 6-8 senior Royce Parham from North Hills, Pennsylvania.

Owens and Parham are Marquette recruits and Bundalo has several college scholarship offers. The Pioneers are not a member of the OHSAA.

Stow's Reece Raymond-Smith fires off a shot against Walsh Jesuit during their game at Stow-Munroe Falls High School on Tuesday. Stow beat Walsh 45-41.
Stow's Reece Raymond-Smith fires off a shot against Walsh Jesuit during their game at Stow-Munroe Falls High School on Tuesday. Stow beat Walsh 45-41.

Can Stow, Cuyahoga Falls and Tallmadge challenge for a league title?

Stow (24-3, 10-2 SLNC) graduated four starters off last season's Division I district championship team, but figures to be a contender once again with 6-6 senior guard Reece Raymond-Smith back.

Bulldogs coach David Close has 10 returning letter winners: seniors Raymond-Smith, Tyler Fleishour, Andy Mergen, Michael Romano, Tyler Spiegel and Tyler Harrington and juniors junior Cam Marconi, Austin Wilhoit and Michael Calcaterra and sophomore Jake Harrington.

Cuyahoga Falls' Drew Huffman dribbles down the court past Copley's Wendell Parks, right, during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.
Cuyahoga Falls' Drew Huffman dribbles down the court past Copley's Wendell Parks, right, during the first half of a high school basketball game, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

Cuyahoga Falls coach Todd Taylor is excited about this season as the Black Tigers (12-11, 8-6 SLAC) return five seniors starters in Drew Huffman, Tim Mitchell, Bryce Smith, Justice Wilkes and Le'Aaron Austin.

Senior Dakota Cleveland and junior Joey Earl are also returning lettermen at Falls.

Tallmadge (15-8, 10-4 SLAC) could make a jump this season. Coach Justen Little said nine letter winners are back, including Kaden Davis, Caleb Reifsnyder, Noah Jascoe, Joey Ewers, Paul Rusinko, Ryan Eisaman, Jake Taylor, Zach Vanko and Vito Paonessa.

Kaden Davis of Tallmadge goes up for a dunk during the Greater Akron Basketball Coaches Association game on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Granger Township, Ohio, at Highland High School.
Kaden Davis of Tallmadge goes up for a dunk during the Greater Akron Basketball Coaches Association game on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in Granger Township, Ohio, at Highland High School.

What is new at Barberton, Copley, Hudson and Nordonia?

Barberton, Copley and Hudson have new coaches, and Nordonia has a new starting lineup after all five seniors graduated.

Chad Hazard, a 2000 Barberton graduate, left East to return to his alma mater. The Magics were 0-23 last season. Seniors Mike Jones, Kenny Larry, Xzavier Macon, Robert Davis, Angelo Harper and Cory Martin are back.

Barberton also added three transfers: juniors De’Arion Holley and Kardiay Tyler from East and Kameryn Kennerly from Firestone.

Copley's Trent Wininger puts up a 3-point shot between Revere's Chris Muntean, left, and Baron Bania on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 in Copley.
Copley's Trent Wininger puts up a 3-point shot between Revere's Chris Muntean, left, and Baron Bania on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 in Copley.

Adam Cestaro is Copley's new leader after serving as Highland's coach. Copley (12-12, 9-5 SLAC) features Dontiar "Scooby" Stanford, Andrew McKnight, Trent Wininger, Gabe Mansel and Lincoln Brockmeyer.

Hudson (7-16, 2-10 SLNC) tapped Michael Brown as it coach. Expect Hunter Chokan, Fritz Trautmann, Nolan Yanak, Nathan Judy, Jayden Carlton, Nikola Mijovic and Caleb Fitz to be difference makers.

The Explorers did lose Tino Yli-Junnila, who transferred to Lutheran West.

Elsewhere in the SLNC, coach Dominique Sanders is counting on returning lettermen Trevor Turnbull, Justin Jones, Aidan Fernandez, Armaan Singh and Blake Johnson to step into larger roles this season for Nordonia (19-6, 9-3).

Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 5 questions on Greater Akron high school boys basketball