On some old Ohio h.s. sports website I used to browse, the subject of the best teams from Central Ohio of all time would come up. East, late 60's; Linden, mid-70's; Wehrle, late-80's; Brookhaven, early-00's.

Given the team Northland beat tonight; given Weatherspoon being out; given the four D-1 players already, without taking into consideration their sophs and Cornley; given the state title last year; given how they were arguably knocked out of the '08 tourney by Satch benching his son; and assuming they win the state again this year...I have this as the best team from Central Ohio ever.

And I'm one of those oldtimers that can remember back to the Todd Penn Linden teams.

Your thoughts...

Best ever. No way around it.

Jared - OSU & best player in the nation and top 5 Ohio HS player ever
JD - OSU and top 100-130 in the nation;top 20-25 forward in the nation
Trey - Penn St and top 100-120 in the nation(better than the kid OSU offered!)
Jalen - WVa and top 100 in the nation
Devon - James Madison offer
Potts - James Madison offer
Lewis - probable D1 kid
Cornley - D2 kid who could be featured at several schools
Justice - " "
Im forgetting someone too!

I'd say they are the best team since 2002 Brookhaven. That team had Drew Lavender, Ron Lewis and Jamelle Cornley. They were one of the few teams that gave Lebron and SVSM a good fight.

Hidden--Sullinger is not a top 5 player in the history of Ohio. I'm not trying to take anything away from him--he is legit, he's a DAMN good ball player. But not top 5. He was very impressive tonight though.

^^^Yeh, top 5 is pretty clear cut: Lucas, Kellogg, Jackson, James, Mayo. But a strong case can be made for him to be in the next grouping. He won that game virtually single-handedly. A beast.

1. LeBron--anyone can try to argue for one of the old guys until their fingers fall off, it's not even close.
2. Lucas
3. Kellogg
4. Jackson
5. Mayo--probably, a few other names you could throw on here.

Sullinger isn't THAT good--but it doesn't mean that he isn't REALLY good.

I watched a lot in the 70s and up to about early 80s and I think Northland is as good as it gets.

I'm trying to think of others to put in for Mayo in that #5 slot. Herb Williams, Michael Redd, or how about Havlicek? I don't know where he went to high school, but I know it was in Ohio and I have to assume he was pretty darned good.

Yeah, I'd probably put Havlicek in there.

I don't have a problem with people disagreeing with me on that at all. However I truly feel that way. It is tough to see greatness when it is in your face. Many did not think LBJ was the best ever during his run but do now. When he is done and probably produces in the NBA at some point in his life, it'll make my claim look more legit. I can agree to disagree. Brookhaven did have LBJ beat so they have to be considered right there but I'll take Northland simply because they have more size and their guards can matchup better than Haven's bigs can do with Northland. Would be a great game though!

It has absolutely nothing to do with how LeBron has done in the NBA--anyone who didn't think he was the best ever before he ever graduated was stupid.

Sq i must be stupid because lucas was pretty damn good in his day

He was. But LeBron is without a doubt the best high school baller to ever play in Ohio. He might be the best high school player in the history of basketball--I'm not joking. It's either LeBron or Kareem.

Sq Crazies, you may be right on several counts. However I was speaking to the masses and if you remember JJ Huddle back when LBJ was around, he was not perceived to be an All Time great by most. Now it is a virtual landslide. As a whole, people have a problem seeing things for what they are when they are happening in the present time. Also if Jared goes to the NBA and produces like I think he will, I bet you people on here will have changed their minds............

If someone cared to dig up his resume of winning in HS or AAU or anywhere really, it tells a very strong tale. Heck hid individual performances versus the best of the best in NBA youngbuck camps and clinics.

Yeah, and a lot of people in Ohio hated him because they thought that team was bullshit.

Again, maybe the best in the history of high school athletics NATIONWIDE. I don't care what people on JJHuddle said during that time--a lot of people were jealous. A lot of people hated him.

It's not even close, he was the best ever in Ohio and it has absolutely ZERO to do with what he's done in the NBA.

I would take any of LeBron's teams because LeBron himself could dominate a game like no other

They don't qualify for central Ohio. But they may have been the best team in Ohio history--I'm not really sure about that. Have to be up there for sure.

This Northland team is not on the same level as the 02-03 Brookhaven team. Not even close IMO.

ThumperAC wrote: I would take any of LeBron's teams because LeBron himself could dominate a game like no other

Yeah, those teams were very good, but that Roger Bacon team that beat them was loaded with D1 and D2 talent as well.

As for the subject at hand, I think that this Northland team is awesome, but I would take that Brookhaven team with Lewis and Lavender over them.

wildcats20 wrote: This Northland team is not on the same level as the 02-03 Brookhaven team. Not even close IMO.

If the Vikings put up back-to-back state titles and undefeated seasons, and a win over the defending national champ, I have a hard time seeing Brookhaven--as good as they were--having a strong case over this Northland squad.

Everyone is talking about the "Lewis and Lavender" team, but I believe a pretty good freshman named Cornley was a pretty good player for that team, also!

^^^I just think that Ohio high school basketball was better in the earlier part of the decade, so no matter what Northland does, I still like the Brookhaven team.

And yeah, Cornley was a beast, not to mention that other guy that went to Oklahoma with Lavender.

That's exactly what I'm saying wes. If the teams played head to head, there is no way the Haven loses.

wildcats20 wrote: This Northland team is not on the same level as the 02-03 Brookhaven team. Not even close IMO.

This Northland team is better than the 02-03 Brookhaven team. The teams do not matchup well at all. Northland is too big. They would beat the Haven by 5-10. Period.

Wilt Chamberlain was one of the Top 2 High School players of all time. Its eithier him or Lew Alcindor.

There is no other 1 or 2.

Wilt was a Physical dominant matchup in his day or any day that know one could matchup with.

Shaq would follow those 2.

Then guys like Pistol Pete, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas and Lebron.

East in the 60's or Walnut Ridge in the 70's could match up top 4 or 5 , but not depth wise with this Northland Team.

East had 6'6 Eddie Ratliff who was a All American at Long Beach State for 2 years. The Tark stole him from everyone. 6'8 Nick Conners he was All Big Ten at Illinoise and if not for Bad knees would have played much longer in the Pros. 6'2 Bo Pete Lamar led the Nation in scoring at least one year and was i think second another year to maybe Fly Williams. He avg. over 30 points a game without the 3 point line in College at SW Louisiana St. They also had a burly 6'8 center and another very good guard around 6'2.

Walnut Ridge of the 70's had 6'11 Ed Stahl at Center he played at North Carolina
Dave Hanners and another Forward/Gaurd also played i believe in the ACC one at NCST with David Thompson and one at Clemson i think. Need some help here from City League old timers.

Both these teams starting 5 could hang with Northland, but a full game would be tough. I'd give East the best chance though.
The Linden Team that beat Barberton in the Finals is another team that would give NL trouble. They had great gaurd play and were very deep and Athletic inside. Buster Douglas may have had to come off the bench to handle Sullinger though. LOL

The East team in the late 60's had everthing. Heighth, strength, and scoring power. Ratleff, Connor, and Lamar may have been the best threesome in the history of Ohio.
Any of those three could take over a game and dominate.