Top 50: These boys basketball players make up the Times-News' 2023-24 District 10 watchlist

tom reisenweber, erie times-news

Wed, Dec 6, 2023, 11:03 AM·12 min read

District 10 was full of standout senior boys basketball players last winter. Out of 24 all-district players, eight are back this year, along with two region players of the year.

With so many players gone to graduation, the boys basketball teams in D-10 could be searching for new leaders and new top scorers this winter. There are also question marks as to some players. One key player not on the Erie Times-News' Preseason Top 50 Boys Basketball Players list is Demetris Crosby, who had a breakout season for North East last year but transferred to Erie High and is not on the roster. Thorsten Hart was an all-region first-team selection for Kennedy Catholic last year, but he is not on the roster as he could be transferring to a school in Ohio.

Another name that will be absent from the list but deserves recognition is McDowell standout Blayze Myers. He is going to miss this winter with a leg injury suffered in football season.

Finally, Erie High standout Honest Olango won't be back this year as his family moved to Minnesota.

Fan poll: You decide who should be the District 10 Boys Basketball Preseason Player of the Year

The Top 50 list is mostly made up of all-region players and some who were nominated for all-region last year. The list is in no particular order.

Damon Curry

Franklin, senior, 6 feet 5 inches, guard

Curry was named the District 10 Player of the Year last winter after a big season for the Knights. Despite an early-season injury, he averaged 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game and eclipsed 1,000 career points in the playoffs.

Nathan Greer

Grove City, jr., 6-2 guard

Greer had a breakout football season last fall before going on to become a standout on the basketball court as well. He was named the region player of the year and averaged 15.6 points per game for the Eagles.

Nate Edwards

Girard, sr., 6-0, guard

Edwards is a lightning-quick guard who came up with clutch buckets throughout the season for the YellowJackets. He is also a top defender in the area and a ballhandler as well.

Derek Douglas

Sharon, jr., 6-0, guard

Douglas scored 15.2 points per game for the Tigers last year to emerge as one of the top players in Mercer County. Expectations are high at Sharon this year and Douglas is a big reason why.

Tyler Grove

McDowell, sr., 6-6, guard

Grove is one of the more versatile players back in District 10 this season. He has the height to be a leading rebounder and control the paint and the quickness and ballhandling skills of a guard. He scored 14.9 points per game last year for the Trojans.

Amaree Pickens

Cathedral Prep, sr., 6-2, guard

Pickens is another all-district player who will be counted on to lead the way this year. He is the only starter back for the Ramblers, who have a new coach as well. Pickens scored 11.7 points per game and had numerous clutch shots as a junior.

Tommy Nyquist

Warren, sr., 5-9, point guard

Nyquist is a standout in several sports and will play a key role for the Dragons this year. As a junior, he averaged 12.3 points, 6.2 assists and 2 steals per game for the Dragons.

Daemyin Mattocks

Mercer, sr., 5-11, guard

Mattocks scored 12 points per game last year to help the Mustangs have another successful season. He could step up as a big-time leader for Mercer this winter after another solid football season.

Parker Schmidt

Cambridge Springs, sr., 6-4, forward

Schmidt is a force inside for the Blue Devils. If teams let him get active on the boards he will not only collect a lot of rebounds, he will be a menace with putback buckets to keep scoring for Cambridge Springs.

Kyler Black

Eisenhower, sr., 6-3, forward

Black was voted to the all-region first team after putting together a big junior season for the Knights. Eisenhower has plenty of leadership with the upperclassmen, including Black.

Noah Crozier

North East, sr., 6-4, guard

Crozier is a sizable and quick guard for the Grapepickers. He is a three-year starter who runs the offense well but will also have to help replace the scoring lost by Crosby.

Archie Murphey

Fairview, sr., 6-4, forward

Murphey is the only returning starter for the Tigers and will be counted on as a big-time leader. He was voted to the all-region first team as a junior and could be one of the top athletes in the region.

Rylan Smith

Corry, sr., 6-1, guard

Smith makes up a solid returning duo with Markus Lambert. Smith averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game as a junior and could be in store for a big senior year.

Avery Collins

Erie First Christian, so., 6-0, guard

Another Collins brother is already a scoring machine for the Eagles. Avery Collins stepped up in the playoffs last year to help Erie First Christian win a District 10 championship and has a big career ahead of him.

Jalen Wood

Franklin, sr., 5-10, point guard

With Damon Curry as the focus of each defense, the Knights need someone else to step up and score. Wood is that type of player as he runs the offense and knows when to shoot and when to distribute the ball.

Logan Anderson

General McLane, sr., 6-0, guard

Anderson is one of the top 3-point shooters in the area and even District 10. He has the ability to change the momentum of games once he heats up from beyond the 3-point line.

Ronan Dorler

Fort LeBoeuf, sr., 6-5, forward

Dorler is a big threat for the Bison as he can dominate inside at 6-5 and he can hit mid-range jumpers as well. With a new head coach, the Bison are looking to turn things around this year.

Jack Burchard

Meadville, jr., 5-9, guard

Burchard is another sharpshooter who can change games for the Bulldogs. He was voted to the all-region second team and after some big graduation losses, he could be the new leader of Meadville.

Lucas Rupp

Seneca, sr., 5-10, guard

Rupp scored 12.7 points per game last winter and will be counted on to lead the way after Seneca lost three starters to graduation. He is a solid shooting guard that can take the ball to the hoop as well.

Rylan Dye

Hickory, sr., 6-0, guard

Dye has been a big part of Hickory's program over the past few years and is a senior leader for the Hornets this winter. He has the ability to score from the inside and the outside for Hickory.

Kamden Kramer

McDowell, jr., 6-0, guard

Kramer is a standout on the cross country court and brings a new level of energy to the basketball court for the Trojans. With Blayze Myers out for the season, Kramer will be counted on even more this year.

Layveon Gore

Erie High, sr., 6-4, guard

With big graduation losses and one player moving out of town, Gore will be counted on in a big way to lead the Royals this year. He is an unselfish guard who knows when to finish possessions.

Cody Fagley

Lakeview, jr., 5-8, guard

Fagley had a big sophomore season to be named to the all-regions second team. With only two seniors on the roster, he will be counted on as a junior to play a big role this winter.

Levi Hailstock

Sharon, jr., 5-11, guard

Hailstock transferred over from Kennedy Catholic and could make an impact this year as an all-region player. He was a top player for the Golden Eagles and was voted to the all-region second team.

Josh Book

Slippery Rock, jr., 6-4, forward

Book is a strong inside presence for the Rockets this season after contributing off the bench for most of his junior year.

Jaheim Mims

Erie High, sr., 5-8, guard

Mims is another top returning player for the Royals who will see significant minutes this year. He can help lead the offense with unselfish play and distributing the ball.

Brady Berdine

Warren, sr., 6-2, guard

Berdine was voted to the all-region second team last year and could be in for a big senior season. Berdine is a solid scorer and leader for the Dragons.

Cole Buckley

Franklin, sr., 6-3, guard

After one final impressive season with the football team. Buckley looks to have a meaningful season with a loaded Franklin team.

Luke Staunch

Sharpsville, sr., 6-7, forward

One of the tallest players in District 10, Staunch is a solid all-around player as he contributes with scoring, rebounding of defense.

Markus Lambert

Corry, sr., 6-1, forward

Lambert averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game to be voted to the all-region team last winter. He is one of a few starters back this year and will need to contribute to the Beavers.

Ethen Knox

Oil City, sr., 6-1, forward

Knox put together a record-breaking career on the football field and will need a big season on the basketball court with the Oilers losing their top two players to graduation.

JT Delsandro

Harbor Creek, so., 5-5, point guard

Delsandro is a perfect example of a player who plays much bigger than his size. Delsandro is tough to keep up with as a speedy point guard, and he is quick to the bucket for easy layups.

Brett Loughry

Grove City, sr., 6-4, forward

Loughry is a big part of a starting lineup that is still intact from last year. The Eagles won another District 10 championship and they return their entire starting five.

Danny Odem

Farrell, so., 5-10, guard

Odem had a breakout freshman season to help the Steelers put together another successful year. He has speed and size to go after every team on the schedule.

Girard High School's Geremiah Dell'Omo, left, drives near Fairview's Charles Chevalier in Fairview Township on Feb. 7.

Geremia Dell'omo

Girard, sr., 6-6, forward

Dell'omo is a three-year starter for the YellowJackets who can shoot from the outside as well as dominate inside at 6 feet, 6 inches.

Lucas Luteran

Meadville, jr., 6-0, guard

Luteran is a solid shooting guard on the outside and has plenty of experience from last year. Meadville is still young but players like Luteran will have the Bulldogs playing good basketball this season.

Jackson Dailey

General McLane, sr., 5-10, guard

Dailey is one of several talented guards the Lancers will lean on this winter. Dailey can shoot it from the outside and drive to the hole to become a tough matchup for defenses.

Noah Philson

Greenville, sr., 6-3, forward

Philson is a solid scorer for the Trojans and can contribute on both ends of the floor. He is one of four returning starters who could lead the way for Greenville.

Collin Jones

Saegertown, sr., 5-10, point guard

Jones is an aggressive guard who has no problem running the Saegertown offense. He can score and distribute the ball well as a senior leader.

Kyle Stringert

Commodore Perry, sr., 5-9, guard

Stringert is an all-region guard that can score in bunches for the Panthers. He had a solid junior season and could be in for a big senior year.

Gavin Lutz

Grove City, sr., 5-10, guard

Lutz put together one of the top receiving careers in District 10 history and now he's looking to go out on top in basketball. He is fast and can shoot as part of the returning starters for the Eagles.

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