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NEO Division 3 Preview

By T.J. Peatross, 11/30/16, 3:00PM EST

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With some area teams officially starting their season on Thursday, our preseason coverage continues as we dive into the Division 3 preview. The Vikings of Villa Angela-St. Joseph enter the year as the favorite but familiar foes in Oberlin and St. Thomas Aquinas stand in their way. Take a look at our preseason teams and Top 5 teams in the area. 

Preseason 1st Team

Gene Higgins (Villa Angela-St. Joseph) 5'8 Jr., G - Our pick for Division 3 Player of the year, Higgins is a bulldog at the point-guard position and capable of leading VASJ to Columbus for a fifth consecutive season.

Caleb Hughley (Oberlin) 5'9 Sr., G - A defensive-minded guard, Hughley is a fierce competitor and the driving force behind a senior laden Phoenix squad.

Alonzo Gaffney (Villa Angela-St. Joseph) 6'7 So., F - Gaffney has emerged as the area's top sophomore in a loaded 2019 class and after coming off the bench a season ago, expect a significant increase in production from the 6'7 wing.

Nathan Weinman (Norwayne) 6'7 Sr., F - After averaging a monster double-double of 21.7ppg and 14.9rpg a year ago, Weinman returns as one of the top players in Wayne County. 

Derek Koch (Salem Northwestern) 6'8 Sr., F - Koch announced his commitment to Bowling Green back in September after another strong showing on the summer circuit. The 6'8 big is among the state's best at his position.

Preseason 2nd Team

Jackson Clark (Gilmour Academy) 5'10 Sr., G - Clark returns as the lone senior from last year's starting group and the crafty guard will look to be more assertive early on as the Lancers look to bounce back from their .500 record a year ago. 

Brandon Rush (Warrensville Heights) 6'0 So., G - Rush started as a freshman for the Tigers last season, and he enters his sophomore season on pace to have a breakout year offensively for Coach Swift.

Turner Horn (Berlin Hiland) 6'2 Sr., G - Horn earned All-Ohio Third team honors a year ago and with the loss of last year's class, the 6'2 wing will find himself playing both inside and out over the course of the year.

Logan Newman (St. Thomas Aquinas) 6'2 Sr., G - After earning second team All-North Coast League honors last season, first year Knights coach Jason Herald will be expecting Newman's three-point shooting and basketball IQ to lead the way.

Donald Johnson (Oberlin) 6'5 Sr., F - Johnson has added some size to his frame over the offseason, and the senior is looking to use his size and strength to hold down the inside, Johnson is the lone post player in the Oberlin rotation.

Honorable Mention

Joe Vallery (Warrensville Heights, 5'10 Sr., G), Dechlan Kirincic (Gilmour Academy, 6'6 Jr., F), C.J. Charleston (Gilmour Academy, 5'10 So., G), Sean Szabo (Elyria Catholic, 6'4 Sr., F), Dorian Crutcher (Elyria Catholic, 6'3 Jr., G/F), Justin Smith (Oberlin, 6'2 Jr., G), Jaret Knox (St. Thomas Aquinas, 6'5 Sr., F), Trey Bealer (Wellington, 6'3 Sr., F), Marcus Conway (Orrville, 6'3 Sr., F), Vincent Dorsey (Waterloo) 6'7 Sr., F/C


Top 5

1. Villa Angela-St. Joseph
  • Last Year's Result: State Runner-Up (23-6)
  • Returning Starters: Gene Higgins (5'8 Jr., G), Danny McGarry (6'5 Sr., F)
  • In the Mix: Alonzo Gaffney (6'7 So., F), William Butler (6'1 Sr., G), Terrance Lawler (5'10 Sr., G), Andre George (5'9 Sr., G), Noah Newlon (6'3 Sr., G)

Over the last several years, Villa-Angela-St. Joseph, along with Lima Central Catholic, have had their way in Division 3, the two teams have played for the state championship in each of the last three seasons. After winning the title in 2015, the Vikings were not expected to make another run late last season. But they did. With Lima CC edging out the Vikings a year ago, Coach Kwasniak and staff are tuning out all the hype. Alonzo Gaffney is one of the Midwest's most coveted prospects in the 2019 class, and junior guard Gene Higgins, who had a breakout sophomore campaign, enters this season as the leader of a group that is at the top of the preseason polls.

2. Oberlin 
  • Last Year's Result: Regional Semi-Finalist (19-7)
  • Returning Starters: Caleb Hughley (5’9 Sr., G), Donald Johnson (6’5 Sr., F)), Justin Smith (6’2 Jr., G), Dave Payne (6'1 Sr., G ), Zion Hicks (5'9 Sr., G ), 
  • In the Mix: Mark Robinson (5'9 Sr., G), Devan Yarber (5'10 Jr., G ), Kurt Russell Jr. (Sr.), Jordan Anderson (5'10 Sr., G)

Coach Kurt Russell and Oberlin will rely on experience during the 2016-17 season as the Phoenix return practically the entire roster from last year's  group. A heartbreaking double overtime loss to St. Thomas Aquinas cut their season two games short of the state semi-finals. Senior Caleb Hughley brings energy and toughness to the floor and is the catalyst behind the team's uptempo and gritty style of play. Donald Johnson provides Coach Russell with a reliable inside presence, and junior Justin Smith adds a great deal of versatility and rebounding from the guard spot.  

3. St. Thomas Aquinas
  • Last Year's Result: Regional Finalist (19-9)
  • Returning Starters: Logan Newman (6’2 Sr., G), Bryson Knott (6’3 Sr., F), Jaret Knox (6’5 Sr., F)
  • In the Mix: Andrew Duplin (6'2 Sr., G), Trevor Moore (6'4 Sr., F), Michael Sommers (5'9 Sr., G), Francisco Pedrozo (6'7 Sr., C)

St. Thomas Aquinas is looking for their fifth consecutive district title and a chance to get back to Columbus for the first time since 2014. Coach Herald takes the reigns of a Knights squad that returns three starters from a year ago. Aquinas has earned a reputation of scoring the basketball in a hurry, but without Jacob Paul, last year's leading scorer, the team will rely on a balanced attack as seniors Logan Newman and Jaret Knox lead the way.

4. Berlin Hiland
  • Last Year's Result: District Finalist (21-5)
  • Returning Starters: Turner Horn (6'2 Sr., G), Chris Kline (5'11 Sr., G)
  • In the Mix: Noah Sommers (6'3 Sr., F), Scott Troyer (5'9 Jr., G), Andy Miller (5'8 So., G)

Hiland is entering their second year in Division 3 after racking up back-to-back Division 4 state championships in 2011 and 2012. After a disappointing loss to Sugarcreek Garaway in a  district final matchup last season, the Hawks are looking to bounce back and establish themselves as one of D3's top contenders. Senior Turner Horn was the team's leading scorer a year ago and is joined by Chris Kline as the two returning starters. The team will have to deal with a lack of size on the inside with the graduation of 6'5 Michael Miller, but Hiland has enough firepower offensively to make some noise come playoffs. 

5. Gilmour Academy
  • Last Year's Result: Sectional Finalist (12-12)
  • Returning Starters: Jackson Clark (5'10 Sr., G), C.J. Charleston (6'1 So., G), Dechlan Kirincic (6'5 Jr., F)
  • In the Mix: Jonny Botek (6'5 Sr., F), Matt DiPuccio (6'0 Sr., G), Johnny Hollis (6'1 Jr., G), Billy Diemer (6'0 Sr., G), Drexel Feeling (6'3 Jr., F), Mario Grk (6'3 Jr., C), Connor O'Toole (6'0 Fr., G), Owen O'Toole (6'0 Jr., G)

Coach Pfundstein enters the 2016-17 season with a unique mixture of youth and experience. The Lancers hope that this year will be the turning point as the team expects to bounce back after a .500 season last year. The backcourt of Jackson Clark and C.J. Charleston will set the tone early on and junior forward Dechlan Kirincic appears ready to take his play to the next level.

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