High school basketball officially tips off in Ohio on Thursday night. In a season as anticipated as any in recent memory, it represents a fresh start for Ohio State basketball commits this winter. Where can you watch each player? Let's take a look.
Class of 2017
Kaleb Wesson
School: Westerville South
Preseason Ranking: No. 1 by 270 Hoops in Central Ohio Division I
Upcoming Games: Friday at Westerville North (7:30 p.m.). Monday at Gahanna (7:30 p.m.)
Outlook: Westerville South has two tough challenges to start the season. The Wildcats open up with rival Westerville North on Friday, who looks to be much improved behind 2019 Ohio State target guard Jeremiah Keene. After that test, Westerville South travels to Gahanna, who is 90-16 in the last four years, and led by 2019 forward Jordan Mitchell, who already holds an Ohio State offer. Behind Wesson, the Wildcats should start out 2-0, but these first two games are a great test regardless.
Braxton Beverly
School: Hargrave Military Academy
Upcoming Games: Thursday at Guilford College (7 p.m.), Sunday vs. 22Ft Academy (7 p.m.)
Outlook: One of the nation's best postgrad programs, Hargrave and Beverly have a marquee matchup vs. 22Ft Academy on Sunday. Two prep programs with lots of talent, Sunday's game in London, Kentucky is a chance for Beverly to go back to his home state and notch a big win.
Class of 2018
Dane Goodwin
School: Upper Arlington
Preseason Ranking: No. 4 by 270 Hoops in Central Ohio Division I
Upcoming Games: Saturday vs. Greenfield-McClain (7:30 p.m.)
Outlook: One of Central Ohio's best teams, Upper Arlington has a chance to win a third district title in the last four years this season. The reason for that is Goodwin, who is now the official alpha dog on this Golden Bears team. Goodwin's toughness, scoring ability and leadership will take Upper Arlington as far as they want to go this winter. UA gets a good test with Greenfield-McClain on Saturday night.
Justin Ahrens
School: Versailles
Upcoming Games: Saturday at Celina (7:30 p.m.)
Outlook: Always one of the better small school programs in Western Ohio, not much should be different this winter for Versailles. At the center of that is the 6-foot-5 swing man Ahrens, who is as talented of a scorer as just about any player in the 2018 class in Ohio. Versailles gets an early test on the road at Celina on Saturday night. Look for Ahrens to put up big numbers in leading Versailles to a win.
Darius Bazley
School: Cincinnati Princeton
Preseason Ranking: No. 6 by Triple Double Prospects in Southwest Ohio Division I
Upcoming Games: No games this weekend
Outlook: With Bazley ineligible for the first 11 games of the season due to his transfer from Finneytown, Princeton will have to survive without its alpha dog. Once Bazley returns, look for Princeton to be one of the best teams in Cincinnati.
