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Top 25: Breaking down players to watch in Akron-area boys high school basketball districts

brad bournival, akron beacon journal
·6 min read

The boys basketball postseason starts Saturday, and once again there are players of significance in almost every district.

That’s why the USA Today Network decided to take a deep dive for you and give you 25 can’t-miss players to watch among districts in the Greater Akron area.

Every single one of them is a returning All-Ohioan.

Take a look at the players and numbers heading into this week:

Stow's Reece Raymond-Smith puts up a shot over Hudson's Jayden Carlton on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Stow.
Stow's Reece Raymond-Smith puts up a shot over Hudson's Jayden Carlton on Tuesday, Feb. 6, in Stow.

OHSAA Division I, Northeast 1 boys basketball district

Teams: St. Ignatius, Cuyahoga Falls, North Olmsted, Lakewood, Midview, Hudson, Normandy, Elyria, Stow, North Ridgeville, Austintown Fitch, Solon, Walsh Jesuit

Jayden Crutcher, Elyria: The 6-foot-5 guard is averaging 19.6 points and 4.4 rebounds as a junior. Crutcher was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Reece Raymond-Smith, Stow: The 6-6 swingman is averaging 23.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks as a senior. Raymond-Smith was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Louisville's Hayden Nigro was a big part of the Leopards knocking off two-time state champ Lutheran East before the postseason starts.
Louisville's Hayden Nigro was a big part of the Leopards knocking off two-time state champ Lutheran East before the postseason starts.

OHSAA Division I, Northeast 2 boys basketball district

Teams: Firestone, Louisville, North, Medina, John Hay, Bedford, Cleveland JFK, Canton McKinley, Cleveland Heights, Mayfield, Nordonia, Copley, GlenOak

Hayden Nigro, Louisville: The 6-5 guard is averaging 20.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a senior. Nigro was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Ja’Corey Lipkins, Glenoak: The 6-1 guard is averaging 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a senior. Lipkins was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

OHSAA Division I, Northeast 3 boys basketball district

Brady Rollyson's future is in baseball, but he's also a vital part to a successful Green basketball program.
Brady Rollyson's future is in baseball, but he's also a vital part to a successful Green basketball program.

Teams: Green, Aurora, Kent Roosevelt, John Adams, Eastlake North, Chardon, Mentor, Dover, Maple Heights, Cleveland Rhodes, Ellet, Jackson, Garrett Morgan

Brady Rollyson, Green: The 6-3 forward/center is averaging 17.3 points, and 7.3 rebounds as a senior. Rollyson was special mention All-Ohio last season and is an Ohio State signee in baseball.

Jarrett Taylor, Green: The 6-4 forward is averaging 10.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists as a senior. Taylor was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Sean Register Jr., Eastlake North: The 6-7 forward is averaging 29.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.9 blocks as a senior. Register was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Ian Ioppolo, Mentor: The 6-5 guard is averaging 27.6 points and 8.8 rebounds as a senior. Ioppolo was third-team All-Ohio last season.

Kyle Monterrubio, Jackson: The 6-3 swingman is averaging 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a junior. Monterrubio was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

OHSAA Division I, Northeast 5 boys basketball district

Hoban's Jonas Nichols will leave the Knights as the all-time leading scorer before heading off to Kent State to play for the Golden Flashes.
Hoban's Jonas Nichols will leave the Knights as the all-time leading scorer before heading off to Kent State to play for the Golden Flashes.

Teams: Brecksville, Highland, Olmsted Falls, Avon Lake, Hoover, Lorain, Strongsville, University School, Willoughby South, Hoban, Perry, Boardman

Luke Skaljac, Brecksville: The 6-3 guard is averaging 21.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 steals as a senior. Skaljac was first-team All-Ohio last season. He has signed with Miami (Ohio).

Hunter Winston, Highland: The 6-4 forward is averaging 16.1 points as a senior. Winston was honorable mention All-Ohio last season. He has signed to play baseball with Ohio University.

Jonas Nichols, Hoban: The 6-4 guard is averaging 19.2 points and 6.2 rebounds as a senior. Nichols was first team All-Ohio last season. He is the school’s all-time leading scorer and has signed with Kent State.

OHSAA Division I, Northeast 6 boys basketball district

Reynoldsburg's Tejuan Barbour (20) guards Garfield Heights Marcus Johnson (11) during the Jared Sullinger Play-By-Play Classic 2024 January in Reynoldsburg.
Reynoldsburg's Tejuan Barbour (20) guards Garfield Heights Marcus Johnson (11) during the Jared Sullinger Play-By-Play Classic 2024 January in Reynoldsburg.

Teams: Garfield Heights, Lakeside, John Marshall, Wadsworth, Westlake, Berea-Midpark, North Royalton, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Shaker Heights, Massillon, Warren Harding, Barberton

Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights: The 6-1 guard is averaging 23.4 points, 3.1 assists and 2.0 steals as a sophomore. Johnson was first-team All-Ohio last season. He has offers from more than 15 schools, including LSU and Ohio State.

Maxx Bosley, Wadsworth: The 6-0 guard is averaging 26.7 points as a senior. Bosley was honorable mention All-Ohio last season. He is the school’s all-time career point leader and is third in Medina County.

OHSAA Division II, Northeast 2 boys basketball district

Teams: Warrensville Heights, Woodridge, Salem, Coventry, Cloverleaf, Norton, Elyria Catholic, Hawken, Revere, Buckeye, East Tech, Youngstown East, West Branch

Logan Forbes, Cloverleaf: The 6-8 center is averaging 19.7 points as a senior. Forbes was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

OHSAA Division II, Northeast 3 boys basketball district

Kaden Davis' athleticism makes him a player to watch in the postseason.
Kaden Davis' athleticism makes him a player to watch in the postseason.

Teams: Poland Seminary, Canton South, Padua, CVCA, Springfield, Tallmadge, Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Chaney, Niles McKinley, Alliance, Holy Name, Orrville

Riley Cervenka, Padua: The 6-0 foot guard is averaging 18.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a junior. Cervenka was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Kaden Davis, Tallmadge: The 6-4 swingman is averaging 20.2 points as a junior. Davis was special mention All-Ohio last season.

OHSAA Division III, Northeast 1 boys basketball district

Teams: LaBrae, Manchester, Keystone, Pymatuning Valley, Lake Catholic, Campbell Memorial, Trinity, Liberty, Canton Central Catholic, Tuslaw, Crestwood, Smithville, Fairless

Dekota Johnson, Crestwood: The 6-0 guard is averaging 20.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a junior. Johnson was honorable mention All-Ohio.

East Canton's Caleb Shilling is a double-double machine for the Hornets.
East Canton's Caleb Shilling is a double-double machine for the Hornets.

OHSAA Division IV, Northeast 3 boys basketball district

Teams: Dalton, East Canton, Youngstown Academy for Urban Scholars, Andrews Osborne, Sebring McKinley, Lake Ridge Academy, Mogadore, Lake Center Christian, Columbia, Lordstown, Lowellville, New Middletown Springfield, Open Door Christian

Caleb Shilling, East Canton: The 6-10 forward/center is averaging 22.9 points and 11.9 rebounds and is the school’s all-time leader in free throws. Shilling was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Layne Miller, Mogadore: The 6-0 guard is averaging 23.4 points as a senior. Miller was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Matt Warder, Lake Center Christian: The 6-0 guard is averaging 22.7 points and 5.8 rebounds as a senior. Warder was special mention All-Ohio last season.

Tanner Norman, Lake Center Christian: The 5-9 guard is averaging 16.1 points and 4.7 assists as a senior. Norman was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Nathan Borling, Columbia: The 6-2 guard is averaging 22.2 points and 8.6 rebounds as a senior. Borling was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Anthony Januzzi, Open Door Christian: The 6-1 guard is averaging 17.6 points and 6.0 assists as a senior. Januzzi was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

R.J. Penney, Open Door Christian: The 6-1 guard is averaging 15.0 points as a senior. Penney was honorable mention All-Ohio last season.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA boys basketball 25 players to watch in Akron districts