http://www.ohsaa.org/members/sptdivis11.htm
Division Breakdowns:
Division 1- 369-Up
Division 2- 215-368
Division 3- 123-214
Division 4- 122-Down
**Hare are "some" teams moving divisions, which could make an impact.
Division 2 to Division 1:
Let us be honest, rarely does a team moving up from Division 2 discover much success in Division 1 with the exception of maybe Zanesville. It's just hard to compete being in the low 400s to high 300s against a Cincinnati St. Xavier with 1,164 boys. With that being said, Toledo Central Catholic made the state semis a year ago and they are currently the smallest D1 school in Ohio.
Here are some intriguing teams moving up to Division 1 for at least the next two years. Chagrin Falls Kenston, Canal Winchester, Zanesville, Avon, Norwalk, Mansfield Madison, Walsh Jesuit, and Toledo Rogers.
Division 1 to Division 2:
On the contrary to the above, teams which drop from D1 to D2 often enjoy a good deal of success. Zanesville, who is always borderline, made the D2 state tourney in 2010, while Toledo Rogers was able to make the dance this past season.
Here is a look at some new impact teams in D2. Trotwood-Madison, Bowling Green, Richfield Revere, Columbus Brookhaven, Akron East, Franklin, Cincinnati Hughes, Marion-Franklin, Columbus Beechcroft, Columbus Independence, and Cincinnati Aiken.
Trotwood has a new coach, new AD, and for the most part a new line up. Star guard Andre Yates has transferred to Dayton Dunbar and double digit scorer Jamar Hammonds has elected to attend Troy Christian, but the Rams should be a major player in a loaded D2 Southwest District along with fellow D1 newcomer Cincinnati Aiken and even Hughes has some young talent.
Look out for Brookhaven, Marion-Franklin, Beechcroft, and Independence in a very watered down D2 Central District. Brookhaven could easily be the favorite in the Central with Randal Clarkson, Khalid King, and Kevin Greenhow returning in the backcourt.
Division 3 to Division 2:
There isn't a lot of movement here, but one of the few is major. Cincinnati Taft pops up after thrashing its way to the Division 3 title a year ago. Taft will be loaded once again with almost its entire roster returning and will join the loaded D2 SW District. The Senators along with Dunbar, Thurgood Marshall, Kettering Alter, Trotwood-Madison, and Cincinnati Aiken should make for its own state tournament in SW Ohio.
Cleveland Central Catholic, who is looking for a coach, and St. Clairsville are two other intriguing newcomers to D2.
Division 2 to Division 3:
There won't be much movement here, but there a few teams worth mentioning. Bishop Fenwick, Cincinnati NCH, Coshocton, and Roger Bacon are four teams looking to make a difference.
D3 is back to its normal self this year with the departure of three of its 2011 state tournament participants in Taft, Cleveland CC, and Columbus Africentric.
Division 4 to Division 3:
Bedford Chanel, Cleveland MLK, and Van Buren are three teams moving to D3 after solid campaigns a year ago.
Division 3 is completely wide open for next year, and it's almost impossible to come up with a preseason No. 1.
Division 3 to Division 4:
Barnesville, St. Henry, Peebles, Cleveland VASJ, and Columbus Africentric could be major players in D4 coming down from D3.
D4 seems to be stronger than D3, but we were going to have VASJ in our D3 preseason Top 10 before figuring out it was headed to Ohio's smallest division.
Africentric should be strong once again and will have a good chance to make regional and state play. Peebles is another school who could benefit from dropping. D3 is Southeast Ohio's strongest division, which is a big reason Peebles never made it out of district play in the "Blake Justice Era."
Final Notes:
There will be a new champion in D3 with Taft moving to D2. Though, we have no idea as to who the favorite might be.
It may be time to think about five divisions. A team with 369 boys shouldn't be asked to compete against a team with 1,164, which is a difference of 795 boys. Division 2 has the next largest difference at 153. This isn't even close. We need to forget about the tired public vs. private debate, and take a look at this major disparity.
