2018-19 Ohio High School Boys Basketball Preview and Players to Watch

MaxPreps Ohio High School Boys Basketball Preview 2018-19

The Ohio High School boys basketball season tips-off Thurs. Nov. 29 and concludes March 21-23, 2019 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center with the 97th annual OHSAA State Tournament. Between now and then (and anytime else), MaxPreps is your home for Ohio High School Boys Basketball. Below you will find links to schedules, scores, rosters, stats, rankings, brackets and more.

You'll also find an extensive list of notable names.  It's our early look at Ohio's top players.

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MaxPreps Boys Basketball 2018-19 Preseason All-Ohio

First Team

* Jae’lyn Withers, Cleveland Heights, sr., F (Louisville)
Huntersville, N.C. transplant and Louisville recruit is considered a Top 100 prospect nationally. Also had offers from Arizona, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech among others.

* Andre Gordon, Sidney, sr., G (Virginia Tech)
Two-time GWOC North Division Player of the Year and three-time first team all-league selection is back at Sidney after a brief offseason stint at Huntington Prep. Averaged 23 points, 5.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals last season. Scored a career-high 49 points against Greenville.

* Zeb Jackson, Maumee Valley Country Day (Toledo), jr. G (Michigan)
A Top 100 prospect nationally and has committed to Michigan. Also holds offers from Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Virginia, Dayton, Wisconsin, Illinois and Vanderbilt among others. 

* Samari Curtis, Xenia, sr., G (Cincinnati)
Cincinnati recruit originally committed to Xavier. Averaged 30.4 points last season and scored 50 in a win over Tippecanoe. Averaged 24.1 points as a sophomore. Enters his final season with 1,293 points (needs 109 more to set school career record).

* Amari Davis, Trotwood-Madison (Trotwood), sr., G (Wisconsin-Green Bay)
Averaged 21 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 1.8 assists last year en route to earning D-II All-Ohio honors. Scored 42 in a win over Xenia.

* Miles McBride, Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), sr., PG (West Virginia)
West Virginia recruit also had offers from Dayton, Akron, Kent State, Miami (OH), Ohio and Toledo. Despite being injured for most of last year, came up big with 14 points in 14 minutes in last year’s D-I state final win over Solon. Averaged 10.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals as a sophomore.

* Zach Loveday, Gallia Academy (Gallipolis), jr. C
A Top 100 recruit nationally 7-footer has offers from Ohio State, Stanford, Indiana, Louisville, Florida, Purdue and Xavier. Averaged 16.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last year. Set the school’s career blocks record with 122 as a freshman. Added 125 more last season.

* Tanner Holden, Wheelersburg, sr., F (Wright State)
D-III All-Ohioan averaged 18 points and 11 rebounds last year. Choose Wright State over Ohio, Toledo, Akron, Cleveland State and Marshall. Doubles as a football standout who was a Mr. Football finalist for as a receiver.. 

Second Team

* Joshua Corbin, Lincoln (Gahanna), sr., SG
Teams leading scorer the last two seasons holds offers from Duquesne, James Madison, Kent State, Robert Morris and Toledo.

* Brison Waller, Garfield Heights, sr., F
Big-time 6-foot-9 post holds offers from Youngstown State, Cleveland State, Miami (OH), Buffalo, Kansas State, Pittsburgh and James Madison.

* Max Martz, Upper Arlington (Columbus), sr. F (Penn)
Choose the Quakers over Toledo, Bowling Green, Marist, Stony Brook and Western Carolina. Averaged 15 points last season.

* Abba Lawal, Withrow (Cincinnati), sr., C
Post prospect (6-11) averaged 9.9 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks last season. Holds offers from Akron, Cleveland State, Miami (OH) and Stony Brook.

* Javin Etzler, Crestview (Convoy), sr., SF (Miami, OH)
Averaged 15.2 points last year en route to D-IV All-Ohio honors. Reigning Northwest Conference and District 8 Player of the Year.

* Ben Roderick, Olentangy Liberty (Powell), sr., SF
Averaged 24.3 points last season en route to becoming the first player in program history to surpass 1,000 points. Averaged 18.7 points as a sophomore. Holds offers from Tennessee-Martin, Stony Brook, Akron and Ohio.

* Davin Zeigler, Benedictine (Cleveland), sr., G (Bowling Green)
Averaged 18.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists last season.

* Meechie Johnson, Garfield Heights, so., PG
Top 100 sophomore prospect nationally dropped 50 points in a win over Benedictine last season. Holds offers from Ohio State, Georgetown, UNLV and Maryland.

* Evan Bainbridge, Stow-Munroe Falls, sr., PF (Kent State)
Averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds last year. Choose Golden Flashes over Northeastern, James Madison and Furman.

Third Team

* Dominiq Penn, Dublin Coffman, jr., PG
Son of former Ohio State standout Scoonie Penn dropped 30 points in last year’s D-I district final win over Upper Arlington. Holds six offers including Ohio State and Saint Louis. 

* John Hughley, Brush (Lyndhurst), jr. C
Post prospect (6-8) holds 17 offers including Dayton, Nebraska, Penn State, Xavier, Wright state, Saint Louis and Tulane.

* Alec Pfriem, Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), sr.
First team All-GCL South last year after ranking among the league leaders in assists (4.2 per game), rebounds (5.4) and steals (1.4). Averaged 7.7 points, but reached double-figures in four of the Crusaders last five tournament games. Had 14 in a D-I state final win over Solon.

* Nathan Bruns, Marion Local (Maria Stein), sr. (Findlay)
Averaged 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and 1.5 blocks last season for the D-IV state champions. First team All-Midwest Athletic Conference in basketball and football (quarterback).

* Sean Marks, Olentangy (Lewis Center), sr. (Ohio Dominican)
Set single-season school records for points (541) and free-throw percentage (90.9 percent, hit 160-of-176 attempts) last season en route to averaging 22.6 points. Dropped a career-high 40 points on rival Olentangy Orange.

* Ethan Conley, Franklin Monroe (Pitsburg), sr., G (Ashland)
Named Cross County Conference Player of the Year and D-IV All-Ohio last season after averaging 22 points and seven rebounds. Enters his senior season with 1,316 points and 479 rebounds.

* Joey Edmonds, Wyoming (Cincinnati), sr. (Findlay)
Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year and D-III All-Ohio last season after averaging 21 points, five assists and four rebounds. Also an All-Ohio wide receiver and four-year starter in football for state finalist Cowboys.

* RaHeim Moss, Springfield, sr., G
D-I All-Ohio last year after averaging 14.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals.

HONORABLE MENTION

* Moe Njie, Centerville, jr.
* Trey Brooks, Elyria Open Door Christian, sr.
* Tyler Stephens, Leavittsburg LaBrae, sr.
* Jahvon Garcia, Pickerington Central, sr.
* Brandon Rush, Warrensville Heights, sr. (Fairleigh Dickinson)
* Lunden McDay, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, sr. (Ohio)
* Ken Ganley, Brecksville-Broadview Heights, sr. (Youngstown State)
* Jeremiah Keene, Westerville North, sr.
* Cade Stover, Lexington, sr. (Ohio State Football)
* Justin Sweeney, Lisbon David Anderson,    sr.
* Curtis Houston, Richmond Heights, sr.
* Keshawn Heard, Newark, sr.    
* Michael Bekelja, Solon, sr. (Fairmont State)
* DJ Dial, Brush, sr.
* Bo Myers, Logan, sr. (Malone)
* Cal Kildow, Belmont Union Local, sr.
* Chris'Seon Stringer, Taft, sr., (Toledo Football)
* Cole Landis, Pickerington Central, sr.    
* Gilbert Davis, Garfield Heights, jr.
* Jordan Jackson, Lorain, jr.
* Tommy Sala, Lakewood, sr. (Nova Southeastern, Fla.)
* Grant Huffman, Saint Edward, jr.
* Andy Barba, Benedictine, jr. (Miami, OH)
* Dominiq Penn, Dublin Coffman, jr.
* Evan Prater, Wyoming, jr.
* Matt Allocco, Hilliard Bradley, jr.
* Jalin Billingsley, Lutheran East, so.
* Jack Pugh, Hilliard Bradley, so.
* Jonah Waag, Cleveland VASJ, so.
* Terin Kinsway, Delaware Hayes, sr.    
* AJ Garrett, Cincinnati Purcell Marian, sr.    
* CJ Charleston, Gilmour Academy, sr.
* Nehemiah Benson, Lutheran East, jr.
* Von Cameron Davis, Walnut Ridge, jr.
* Devontae Blanton, Saint Edward, jr.
* Luke Frazier, Lake Catholic, jr.
* Joey Holifield, Stritch, jr.
* Josiah Fulcher, Pickerington Central, jr.
* Luka Eller, Lake Catholic, jr.
* Marcus Johnson, Columbus South, jr.
* Hayden Stone, Carey, jr.
* Montorie Foster, Saint Edward, jr.
* Carl Blanton, Trotwood Madison, jr.
* Garvin Clarke, Euclid, jr.
* Dominick Moegerle, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, jr.
* Grant Whisman, Middletown Madison, jr.
* Josh Irwin, West Geauga, so.
* Demari Martin, Winton Woods, so.
* Enavell Lighty, Cleveland VASJ, so.
* Devon Grant, Lorain, sr.
* Jacob Plantz, Genoa, sr.
* Kaleb Martin, Green, sr.
* William Mfum, Northland, sr.
* Andre Harris, Brush, sr. (Wright State)
* Max Land, Cincinnati Moeller, jr.
* Jesse Laster, Garfield Heights, jr.
* Erik Painter, Bay Village, sr.    
* Demarco Bradley, Taft, sr.    
* Jackson Harris, St. Francis De Sales, sr.    
* Ben Fort, Reynoldsburg, sr.    
* Tremaine Smith, Cincinnati Taylor, sr.    
* Tim Smith, Lakewood, sr. (California, PA)
* Bash Wieland, Lakota East, sr.
* Demetrius Terry, St. Edward, sr.
* Kalen Etzler, Convoy Crestview, so.
* Malaki Branham, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, so.
* Jack Sawyer, Pickerington North, so.
* Will McCracken, Moeller, so.
* Kobe Johnson, Canton McKinley, so.
* Zach Rasile, McDonald, jr.
* Mason Angle, Windham, jr.
* Chris Mayfield, Hilliard Bradley, jr.
* Isaiah Kennedy, Wayne, jr.
* Jake Younkin, Moeller, jr.
* Max Mollmann, Upper Arlington, jr.
* Khalil Davis, Princeton, jr.
* Deshaun Nettles, Cleveland Central Catholic, jr.
* Brent Darby, Garfield Heights, jr.
* Steve Gentry Jr., Cincinnati Deer Park, jr.
* Aaron Ward, Cincinnati Princeton, jr.
* Logan Justice, Watkins, jr.
* Nekhi Smith, Taft, jr.
* Alek West, Sylvania Northview, sr.
* Taveon-Pierre Louis, Lorain, sr.
* Jackie Harris, Toledo St. Francis, sr.
* Carson Ryan, Boardman, jr.
* Alex Mangold, Lakota East, jr.
* Jayvon Maughmer, Chillicothe, jr.
* Ethan Kuhns, Bloom-Carroll, jr.
* Quian Magwood, Walnut Ridge, jr.
* Luke Lachey, Grandview, jr.
* Quentin Richardson, Holy Name, jr.
* Darrion Henry, Princeton, jr.
* EJ Farmer, Lutheran East, so.
* Seth Wilson, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, so.
* Jaden Hameed, Cleveland VASJ, so.
* Josh Thorbahn, Ottoville, so.
* Jackson Ames, Batavia, jr.
* C.J. Anthony, Harvest Prep, jr.
* Mark Wise, Deer Park, jr.
* Lukas Swartz, Mogadore, jr.