T.J. Peatross, NEO Spotlight -  Brecksville has the potential to really shake things up in Division 1 and I believe they have as good of a chance at reaching Dayton as any of the other contenders in Northeast Ohio. Led by the trio of Tyler Ganley, Chase Garito, and Luke Skaljac, the Bees play a fun and cohesive brand of basketball that is refreshing to watch. They're battle tested and currently hold the top spot in D1, according to the ranking metrics over at Martin RPI. 

Corey Albertson, Triple Double Prospects - Fairfield comes to mind first. They have the bodies, athleticism, depth of offensive talent and toughness to make a run. They also have quality coaching from DJ Wyrick. Can they execute efficiently enough offensively? When they really move the ball around to prioritize good shots, they're a tough team to defend; and a big part of that is letting Logan Woods be the catalyst in creating offense, as he's such an unselfish guard. Sycamore, Elder, St. Xavier, Lakota East and even Moeller are other capable teams in my area, but I really like Fairfield's long term potential as we approach the postseason.

Matt Goul, cleveland.com - From the Northeast, in Division I, I think Brecksville can crash the party among the regular regional contenders and make a run at Dayton. The Bees have the most chemistry of any NEO team. In D-II, Shaw could win its district depending on the draw. Second-year coach Marvin Rashad has that group playing well. My D-III dark horse is Oberlin because it exposes itself against quality non-league opponents, including a D-I heavy summer league. That can pay off in the tournament. In D-IV, it has to be Cornerstone Christian. After VASJ beat Beachwood in 2016, nothing a Babe Kwasniak-coached team does will surprise me.

Michael Roth, Prep Hoops Ohio - Uniontown Green is my pick. I think the Northeast district is a little down in Division I and Green proved they were capable of making a run when they made it to the regional title game a few seasons ago. The team is different this season, but Green plays a similar style of play.

Jake Meisler, Spy Report - I’m not sure they’re a “dark horse” any longer, but I absolutely love that Brecksville team.  I got a chance to see them this summer and they play the game the right way. The other is Findlay — their style and sheer skill set make them capable of upsetting some top tier teams come March.

Zach Fleer, 270 Hoops - I'm going with Pickerington North. As we all know, you need great guard play to win in March. The Panthers have it. Their quartet of guards in seniors Jerry Saunders, Dior Conners, Corey Hudson and freshman Arness Lawson are as good as it gets in the area. If they can get some more of an interior presence, they can make a run. We'll know how legit they are for sure when they hit the road to take on Gahanna on Friday. However, with the wins they have already against St. Vincent-St. Mary and Upper Arlington, I am confident in their ability to make a run.

Jake Spegal, 270 Hoops - A dark horse team that I think is capable of making a run is Bishop Ready in Division III. The Silver Knights have picked up some really impressive wins this season as they have a nice cast of guys in Kaleb Schaffer, Luke Ruth and Charlie Russell. Not only do they have talent, but Bishop Ready also has a great team chemistry that will play a big role come tournament time.