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Ohio's best: The top 24 boys basketball players in the state ahead of the 2023-24 season

USA TODAY Network Ohio
·9 min read

The state of Ohio continues to produce high-quality high school basketball players who will put their talents on display this winter.

As a preview to this season, the high school sports staff of the USA Today Network's 21 Ohio newspapers and websites compiled a who's who of the Buckeye State's prep boys basketball players.

This is one of a series that includes girls basketball's top 24 players this winter and, in fall, included football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls soccer.

Ohio's best: The top 23 high school girls soccer players in 2023

Ohio's best: The top 23 high school volleyball players in 2023

How they were ranked

USA TODAY Network Ohio staff across the state researched and compiled a list of its respective area's top players. The journalists voted on these players using a point system. Those points were tabulated to determine the top 24 players.

1. Tyler McKinley, Winton Woods

The four-star recruit returned to Cincinnati after being the No. 1 recruit in Missouri while playing for the Link Academy in Branson. McKinley signed with the Cincinnati Bearcats. The 6-9, 220-pound power forward played for Walnut Hills his first two years, averaging 17.2 points and 7.4 rebounds. No. 2-ranked basketball recruit in state by 247sports.

Tyler McKinley, playing for Walnut Hills last season, has moved back to town and plays for Winton Woods this year. He's ranked No. 1 in the state by USA Today Network Ohio sportswriters.
Tyler McKinley, playing for Walnut Hills last season, has moved back to town and plays for Winton Woods this year. He's ranked No. 1 in the state by USA Today Network Ohio sportswriters.

2. Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights

Johnson has been ranked as the top player in his class according to 247Sports. Johnson averaged 20.4 points per game as a freshman last season and was Division 1 All-Ohio first team. He has a number of significant offers from schools like Alabama, Cincinnati, Ohio State, West Virginia and LSU among others.

3. Jonathan Powell, Centerville

The 6-foot-5 senior is signed to play at Xavier University next season. The Musketeers get a four star recruit ranked No. 4 in his class in Ohio. Powell was Division I first-team All-Ohio last year when he averaged 16.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game last season.

4. Jesse McCulloch, Lutheran East

A 6-foot-9 center, McCulloch is committed to play at Michigan State University. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 6 player in the senior class in Ohio.

5. (tie) Damarius Owens, Western Reserve

Owens, who signed to play for Marquette in early November, is ranked as the top player in Ohio for the 2024 class by 247Sports and the No. 51 player in the country.

5. (tie) Colin White, Ottawa-Glandorf

The 6-foot-5 senior is ranked No. 5 in the Ohio class of 2024 by 247Sports and is committed to Ohio State for next year. White averaged 21.1 points per game last season and was named Division III All-Ohio.

7. Royce Parham, Western Reserve

This 4-star recruit is ranked No. 3 by 247Sports and is committed to Marquette University. Parham transferred to Western Reserve after playing for North Hills in Pennsylvania where he was an All-Section player and averaged nearly 30 points per game last season.

8. Raleigh Burgess, Sycamore

The 6-foot-11 senior signed with Purdue in November. As a sophomore for the Aviators, Burgess averaged 10.9 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, while shooting 62.6 percent from the field. As a junior, he missed part of last season with a leg injury but averaged 14 points and 9.5 rebounds per game and earned second-team Southwest District All-Star honors for Div. I. 247sports ranks him 7th.

Sycamore center Raleigh Burgess, playing against Princeton last season, is ranked the No. 8 player in the state by USA Today Network Ohio.
Sycamore center Raleigh Burgess, playing against Princeton last season, is ranked the No. 8 player in the state by USA Today Network Ohio.

9. Antoine West, Toledo Whitmer

The junior is already getting buzz from top college programs like Arizona State, Duquesne and Georgia. West was Division I first team All-Ohio as a sophomore after averaging 21.5 points per game last season.

10. Jonas Nichols, Archbishop Hoban

The senior recently signed with Kent State after helping Hoban to a Division I state championship last season. Nichols averaged 16 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 39.7 percent from the field and over 80 percent from the free throw line. He enters this season with more than 1,000 points and is on pace to become Hoban’s all-time leading scorer.

11. Luke Skaljac, Brecksville-Broadview Heights

The point guard is ranked No. 9 by 247Sports in Ohio and was Division I first team All-Ohio last season. Skaljac averaged 23.2 points per game as a junior and is committed to Miami of Ohio to play college basketball.

12. King Kendrick, Northland

This 5-10 sophomore point guard was honorable mention all-district in Division I as a freshman, averaging 14.4 points, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals. The voters may have been underestimating him. Kendrick scored 33 points in the Columbus City League championship game, leading Northland to a 60-58 upset of Africentric, which was led by now-Xavier freshman Dailyn Swain. Kendrick has offers from Ohio University, Kent State, Arizona State and Texas A&M, according to 247sports.com.

Northland's King Kendrick, right, led his team to the Columbus City League championship last season as a freshman.
Northland's King Kendrick, right, led his team to the Columbus City League championship last season as a freshman.

13. Alex Bruskotter, Shelby

Bruskotter was a second-team All-Ohio, first-team All-Northwest District, District 6 Player of the Year, first-team All-District 6, Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year and first-team All-MOAC player last season when he averaged 21 points, 5.2 assists, 8.6 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.0 block per game. He recently signed to play at Wright State.

Shelby's Alex Bruskotter will play college basketball at Wright State.
Shelby's Alex Bruskotter will play college basketball at Wright State.

14. Cade Norris, Hilliard Bradley

The 6-4 senior guard committed to Illinois State following a junior season in which he averaged 19.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds. He earned first-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district honors. He also was OCC-Central Player of the Year. Bradley went 19-6 and reached a Division I district final.

Hilliard Bradley’s Cade Norris has committed to Illinois State.
Hilliard Bradley’s Cade Norris has committed to Illinois State.

15. Zevin Gadson, Buchtel

The 6-foot-3 senior recently received an offer from Northern Illinois and is likely to end up at a top college program. Gadson averaged 22.8 points per game with 7 rebounds and 2.8 assists in just nine games for Firestone last season after moving back from Arizona in January. The guard had several standout performances in those nine games, including a 39-point performance against Massillon. Gadson began his high school career at Buchtel and played two seasons with the Griffins.

16. Ace Buckner, Cleveland St. Ignatius

Buckner, a senior, averaged 13.4 points per game last season and was Division I second team All-Ohio. Buckner has received multiple offers to play college basketball including from top programs at Ohio University, Kent State and Duquesne but has yet to officially commit to a school.

17. Jesse Burris, Delaware Hayes

Burris is an Ohio University commit who fills up the box score, averaging 18.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals last season. The 6-4 senior guard/forward made second-team All-Ohio in Division I. He also was OCC-Capital Player of the Year and first-team all-district, helping Delaware go 20-5 and reach a district final.

18. Brayden Fogle, Lexington

Fogle had a breakout freshman year for the Minutemen, averaging 13 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists while leading the team to a Division II district championship game. He was special mention All-Ohio, second-team All-Northwest District, second-team All-District 6 and first-team All-Ohio Cardinal Conference. He holds offers from Arizona State, IUPUI, Jackson State, Radford and Texas-Rio Grande Valley among others.

Lexington's Brayden Fogle returns for his sophomore season after leading the Minutemen to an Ohio Cardinal Conference championship as a freshman.
Lexington's Brayden Fogle returns for his sophomore season after leading the Minutemen to an Ohio Cardinal Conference championship as a freshman.

19. Dominique Aekins, Walnut Ridge

A 5-8 senior point guard who has committed to Duquesne, Aekins averaged 28.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.7 rebounds last season. He was special mention All-Ohio in Division I, along with first-team all-district and first-team all-league in the South Division of the Columbus City League.

20. A.J. McBride, Moeller

The 6-foot-5 senior guard led Moeller with 10.3 points and five rebounds per game last season, leading the team to an 18-8 record before falling in Division I district finals. He committed to play for Division I Niagara and was honorable mention all-district and all-state. He’s the younger brother of NBA player/WVU alum Miles McBride

Moeller's A.J McBride, dunking against Princeton in 2023, is ranked the 20th best player in the state by USA Today Network Ohio.
Moeller's A.J McBride, dunking against Princeton in 2023, is ranked the 20th best player in the state by USA Today Network Ohio.

21. J.P. Dragas, Madison

The senior broke the all-time leading scorer record at Madison last season with 1,329 career points. Dragas averaged 27.1 points per game on his way to making Division II first team All-Ohio.

22. Landon Vanderwarker, Delaware Hayes

This 6-7 junior has transferred to Delaware after being first-team All-Ohio in Division IV last season at Northside Christian. He averaged 22.8 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.7 steals, leading Northside Christian to its first district title. He also was the Player of the Year in the Central District and the Mid-Ohio Christian Athletic League. Vanderwarker has offers from Ohio University and Virginia Commonwealth, according to 247sports.com.

23. Rosean Burns, Beechcroft

The 5-10 senior point guard had a breakout junior season, averaging 24.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.1 steals. He was second-team All-Ohio in Division II, along with first-team all-district and first-team all-league in the North Division of the Columbus City League. Burns underwent heart surgery when he was less than a month old and had his right arm amputated below his elbow when he was 8 months old.

Beechcroft's Rosean Burns, who had his right arm amputated below his elbow when he was 8 months old, was second-team All-Ohio last season.
Beechcroft's Rosean Burns, who had his right arm amputated below his elbow when he was 8 months old, was second-team All-Ohio last season.

24. Chance Casenhiser, Uniontown Lake

The senior averaged a Stark County-high of 23.5 points per game with 3.2 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2 steals last year. As a junior, Casenhiser shot 48.6 percent from field and 77.6 percent from the foul line. Casenhiser also holds the Uniontown Lake single game record for points per game with 45 against Massillon Perry. He was Division I third team All-Ohio and should end up as a strong Division II college player.

Others receiving votes

Jaiden Arnold, Aiken; Alex Bobb, Zanesville Maysville; Terrell Darden, Dresden Tri-Valley; Max Dawson, Willard; Ian Ioppolo, Mentor; Sam Johnson, Worthington Christian; Jayson Levis, Rocky River Lutheran West; Caleb Lovely, South Point; Ru Mills, Woodward; Tommy Morgan, Brunswick; Myles Montgomery, Minford; Carter Mallernee, Northridge; Trey Perry, Lakota East; Derek Fairley, Rocky River Lutheran West

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio high school boys basketball's top 24 players for 2023-2024