by 
By: Tyler Danburg
NORTHEAST OHIO–The 2019/2020 season of men’s basketball has not disappointed so far in its first two months. With the season almost halfway through, the first Top 25 polls in the state of Ohio have been released, and a lot has changed in the rankings for the 25 best teams in the region of Northeast Ohio. Among the most dominant this year have been the two parochial powerhouses St. Edward’s and St. Vincent-St. Mary’s, along with premier programs Shaker Heights, Lorain, and Lutheran East. However, there are various different teams currently rising up the ranks that could make a strong push in the remaining regular season and postseason. Here are some of the most underrated, and upcoming teams that have and can make noise in NEO basketball the rest of the year.
- Rhodes (8-1)
The Rams have garnered lots of attention around the Cleveland area, and are on pace to exceed their preseason expectations, winning their first seven games of the season. For years Rhodes has struggled with playing a tough schedule, longing for one more game-changing player to fix the missing piece.
This year is different, as John Marshall transfer Keyshawn Hall leads the front for a very balanced Rhodes squad and has provided himself as the missing piece for the Rams.
Along with Hall, electric guards Jamal Sumlin and Marlon Landingham as well as glass cleaning forward Deangelo Williams round out a spectacular lineup for a Rams team that averages an astounding 78.2 points per game.
However, Rhodes has a tough path to break through the postseason bracket months from now, facing tough opponents such as NEO’s top-ranked St. Edward’s and powerful St. Ignatius in the Lakewood district. If there is a way to tell how far this Rams squad can go, their tough schedule and wins already on their resume will prove their longevity in what has been a promising season so far.
Notable Victories:
- 12/6: Def. Glenville 86-66
- 12/13: Def. East Tech 69-65
- 12/14: Def. Benedictine 94-75
- 1/3: Def. Warrensville Heights 44-42
2. St. Ignatius (7-5)
The Wildcats came into 2019 after an unexpected early exit in last year’s District Semi-final, losing an upset from Brecksville in four overtimes 84-79. Ignatius’ basketball program was in dire need of depth and solid coaching, and achieved the coaching search by locking down head coach Cam Joyce.
With a tough schedule awaiting from the start, the ‘Cats through 12 games have showed why they can quietly make a statement in the area. Ignatius has scrapped together a well-balanced lineup filled with key role players from top to bottom.
Henry Raynor may be the most looked-at player in the Ignatius starting lineup. With a 6’7, 200 pound frame and excellent intangibles, Raynor has developed as a pure threat who can average a double-double each game while adding excitement with his three-point shot and explosive dunks.
Despite the slow start for Guards Chase Toppin and Jon Effertz, they found their stride in the three games spent at the Vince Fernandez New Year’ Classic in Miami, FL; Effertz was named to the All-Tournament team.
The issue for the Wildcats might be if they can stay consistent or not. But with their offensive balance, strength of schedule acquired throughout the season, and the promise they showed going 2-1 in Miami during Christmas vacation proves that they can battle with the powerful teams in their playoff district.
One of those teams is top-ranked St. Edward’s, who the Wildcats played very closely, but came up short 61-55. Despite their record being only two wins over .500, their strength of schedule and key wins over tough teams will ride them as one of the hidden gems in the region and in their playoff district.
Notable Victories:
- 12/1: Def. Richmond Heights 65-47
- 12/10: Def. Maple Heights 57-51
- 12/21: Def. Canton-McKinley 73-51
- 1/3: Def. Belen Jesuit (FL) 69-54
3. Fairview (10-1)
The Fairview Warriors, led by third-year head coach Ryan Barry, define the term ‘sleeper.’ Having played that role in the past two years, this Warriors squad has become one of the top teams in the area and in the state’s Division III, moving down from Division II. With a tough schedule following their move to the Great Lakes Conference (GLC), the Warriors can use the grueling opponents in the regular season to their advantage heading forth into the postseason.
Fairview came into the season returning all five starters, and with the star power of point guard and Walsh commit Luke Howes along with other notable performers such as Martin Lowry and Noah Mesaros, have blossomed into an underrated program loaded with depth. It hasn’t just been the 20-plus point averaging Howes, as Lowry and Mesaros have added crucial stat lines as well, with Lowry averaging 15.1 points and five assists per game and Mesaros averaging 14.6 points and eight rebounds per game through ten games.
The Warriors first made a statement at the Great Lakes Classic in November, falling just short of Cleveland Central Catholic 70-65 and have won every one of their last 10 games since then. Fairview rides a tough end to their schedule in the GLC and takes on NEO’s fourth-ranked Lutheran East in February to finish off a so far groundbreaking season.
Notable Victories:
- 12/10: Def. Benedictine 80-73
- 12/17: Def. Holy Name 85-66
- 12/20: Def. Elyria Catholic 86-79
- 1/3: Def. Parma 60-52
4. Canton-McKinley (9-2)
This year’s Canton-McKinley Bulldogs have been sneaky good in their first 11 games, posting nine wins during that span, and have put up with an exceptionally tough schedule. Anchored by strong talents Kobe Johnson and Brent Walker, the Bulldogs have been responsible for another dominant upset this year in their late December win over the fourth-ranked team at the time Green, a contest dominated by the star-studded big man Walker who had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The win over Green wasn’t just the main source of energy for McKinley, as they have defeated other strong teams such as their five-point upset over Lima Senior, and tough triumphs over Maple Heights and Massillon-Jackson. However, their inability to get going in their December 21st 75-53 loss to St. Ignatius and another loss to GlenOak cost the ‘Dawgs multiple spots in the recent polls, but that might work to their best advantage to be silent yet deadly in the region and in the playoffs through their starting five, especially their two focal points Johnson and Walker.
Notable Victories:
- 12/10: Def. Perry 59-47
- 12/20: Def. Green 53-46
- 12/29: Def. Lima Senior 82-70
- 1/3: Def. Massillon-Jackson 54-50
- 1/4: Def. Maple Heights 70-55
5. Solon (7-3)
The season for Solon came off to a slow start capped with games against the area’s very best opponents. But in the past weeks, the Comets have shot out of the sky, earning one of the year’s most tremendous upsets, outlasting (at the time) seventh-ranked Mentor, 70-67. While that statement victory on January 7th might have been a true surprise, it might not have been so out-of-proportion for Head Coach Tony DeCesare’s Comets team. They first made noise weeks before, falling to perennial power, fourth-ranked Green by only seven points on December 28th, and then embarked on a three game winning streak that included wins versus Strongsville, the aforementioned Mentor Cardinals, and Euclid. Comets guard Marcus Steele has emerged as one of the top threats in the Cleveland area, averaging 17 points in his past two games, which if Steele can keep being the spark for Solon, the Comets might just have a strong push into the end of the regular season and into the postseason.
Notable Wins:
- 12/3: Def. Kenston 63-51
- 12/20: Def. Brunswick 56-51
- 1/7: Def. Mentor 70-67
- 1/10: Def. Euclid 52-51
