Northland is the best central Ohio team ever. Not by a large margin at all, but they bring a little too much to the table. Plus at the end of the day, Jared would still be the most dominant player on the floor.

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.

Dave Hanners- North Carolina
Brad Hoffman-North Carolina
Ed Stahl-North Carolina
Tim Capehart-Clemson
Greg Olsen- Minnesota(transferred to Miami of Ohio)
Chuck Goodyear-Miami of Ohio

HiddenGems wrote: 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.

Actually, most people have a tendency to overrate things that are happening in the present. Look how quickly people are willing to dismiss MJ for Kobe Bryant as the greatest in the NBA, and here in a couple of years, they will be dismissing Kobe for Lebron. Or think about the huge lovefest for the USC football team a couple of years ago when ESPN was declaring them the greatest cfb team of all time and then they promptly went out and lost to Texas.

TCSoup wrote: 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.

When Wilt was in high school, did they even keep stats?

Lebron won three state titles, had an all-time record of 102-5, including only one loss in his junior and senior years, won a national title, fourth on the ohio all-time scorer list (which lets be honest, lebron could have easily set the bar so astronomically high that it couldnt be touched by anyone else) and played a schedule his junior and senior years that was comparable to the schedules that some D1 college bball teams have (with only one loss to Roger Bacon in that time period). I remember when he played a top 10 nationally Westchester (Ca.) team led by Trevor Ariza his senior year and Lebron had outscored Westchester by himself when he left the game early in the fourth quarter. Dudes resume speaks for itself and you'd be extremely hard-pressed to find a more impressive one, hes right up there with Kareem for one and two.

EDIT: And count me in with those that think 02-03 Brookhaven was better than 09-10 Northland

trep14 wrote:

TCSoup wrote: 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.

When Wilt was in high school, did they even keep stats?

Lebron won three state titles, had an all-time record of 102-5, including only one loss in his junior and senior years, won a national title, fourth on the ohio all-time scorer list (which lets be honest, lebron could have easily set the bar so astronomically high that it couldnt be touched by anyone else) and played a schedule his junior and senior years that was comparable to the schedules that some D1 college bball teams have (with only one loss to Roger Bacon in that time period). I remember when he played a top 10 nationally Westchester (Ca.) team led by Trevor Ariza his senior year and Lebron had outscored Westchester by himself when he left the game early in the fourth quarter. Dudes resume speaks for itself and you'd be extremely hard-pressed to find a more impressive one, hes right up there with Kareem for one and two.

EDIT: And count me in with those that think 02-03 Brookhaven was better than 09-10 Northland

Young man do a google search on Wilt Chamberlian and learn yourself some Basketball history.
Wilt scored 74,78,90 points in consecutive games while in High School at Overbrook high in Philly.
He played for the Harlem Globetrotters before going into the NBA.
Where his Career Avgs :
Points 30.1 per game
Rebounds 22.2 Per Game
Assist 4.2
Check it out on Wikipedia College Coaches were offering him Diamonds and Movie Contracts to come play for them.

wildcats20 wrote: That's exactly what I'm saying wes. If the teams played head to head, there is no way the Haven loses.

That's just a stupid comment. There is a way. Maybe Brookhaven is better, but if they are, it's by a slim margin and Northland is capable of beating them.

As for Northland now, they are as good as any team in Central Ohio I've seen (was born in 1983). The Brookhaven team of 2002 was very good, but Sullinger would still be the best player on the court. I think the main difference is this Northland team is committed to defense, whereas the Brookhaven teams would just outscore you.

In Brookhaven's defense, they almost beat SVSM the year they were National Champs (I think it was 2003), so Brookhaven was a premier team not only in Ohio, but across the country.

Wrong wrong wrong! It is one thing to almost beat the number 1 team in the county, but it is not the same as beating the number 1 team in the country without one of your premier players. Brookhaven was a fantastic team with a great coach but they were not a good matchup for this Northland team. People seem to forget that their state championship team was beaten by a local team (Mifflin) and that they were not the team that took ASVSM to the wire. They were a great team though. That team started Drew Lavender 5'7", Dontae Patterson 6'0", Brandon Faust 6'7", Raheem Moss 6'4" and Jamelle Cornley 6'5" while bringing their best all around player off the bench 6'3" Ron Lewis. A very talented group. Not the defensive group or the rebounding group that the Vikings have. Their is no-one on the Brookhaven roster that would even slow Jared down. Expecially not at that time in their career.
Drew Lavender- Jr. 5'7" vs Trey Burke - Jr. 6'0"
Drew was amazing. Ran his team like a coach on the floor. Great floor vision and tougher than expected defender. Nice array of moves with quickness to get to the cup and the ability to make tigh passes in small places. Good scorer who only scored when necessary.

Trey is a tough as nails point guard. Great on the ball defender. Very good shooter. Strong and fast with the ball. Good court vision and not easily flustered by pressure defense. Crafty with the ball.
Drew was quicker and had more court vision. Trey in my opinion is a better shooter and taller. Both better defenders than you would think.
Advantage Lavender 1 pts

Deontae Patterson - Sr. 6'0" vs Jordan Potts - So. 5'10"
Deontae Patterson was a very good scorer but more of a streaky shooter. He did not force bad shots. When his jumper was on he was a tough night out for everyone. He was a solid ball handler. Very creative in getting to the rim.

Jordan Potts is a good shooter who has the vision to play point. He also does not force shots. He played well in big games in the State Tourney on the way to the Championship last year. Has struggled scoring the ball this year. Very good defensive player. Able to guard other players much taller than himself.

Deontae had maturity and experience in his favor. Although I believe Jordan is a better defender Deontae would get the better of this match-up.
Patterson +2

Raheem Moss Sr. 6'3" vs KeChaun Lewis So. 6'3"
Raheem was a very good jump shooter. Finished well on the break. Had good hops. Solid ball handler. Very experienced as a senior.

KeChaun Lewis. Good ball handler who finishes above the rim and has the passing vision and ability of a point guard. Not a great jump
shooter but excellent at getting to the rim. Very good passer.
Raheem Moss has experience and a better jump shot. Although Lewis is a better driver and passer who does play within his limits.
Advantage Moss +1


Brandon Faust - Jr. vs JD Weatherspoon - Sr.
Brandon Faust explosive leaper and capable shot blocker. Almost 2 peas in the same pod. JD Weatherspoon is an incredible leaper who can nail the spot up jump shot. JD is also an excellent rebounder.

While Faust was a front runner in the finishing above the rim department JD takes it to another level. JD's rebounding ability and his catch and shoot give him the nod in this match-up. (Brandon did become a more well rounded player after he graduated but this comparison is between the 2002 Champs and the 2009/2010 Vikings)
Advantage Weatehrspoon +2

Jamelle Cornley Fr. 6-5" vs Jared Sullinger Sr. 6'9"
Two of the best post players to ever come out of Central Ohio. Jamelle provided the muscle and force that Brookhaven needed to control the paint against most teams every night. Not a great scorer as a freshman but solid every night out. He did develop a tremendous ability to score inside as he got older. Quick for his size and relentless.

Jared Sullinger. He is the most dominant player to play in Ohio since LeBron James. He is unstoppable in the paint and he has the ability to knock down shots from 20 ft in. Better ball handler than you would expect and he is the greatest rebounder the City has ever produced. He playes even bigger in big games.

There is noone on this team that could stop Sullinger.
Advantage Sullinger +7

Ron Lewis Sr. 6'3" vs Jalen Robinson So. 6'8"
Ron Lewis was a do it all driven extremely talented player for the Bearcats. By his senior season he was developing a nice jump shot, he could finish around the rim and he could take his man off the dribble in the half court offense. He was a good defender who was not afraid to mix it up. Total team player who did whatever it took for his team to win.

Jalen Robinson is new to this team and brings size, rebounding and shot blocking. He has tremendous post moves that make him a serious scoring threat inside.

Lewis was more mature and very well rounded.
Advantage Lewis +4

Final tally: Northland plus 9 Brookhaven plus 8

In my opinion Northlands size, team defense, rebounding and go to man (Sullinger) win out over Brookhavens offense. speed and tenacity.

Did Brookhaven have another D1 offer kid like Devon Scott or another D2 probable kid like Jakyl Cornley? Im asking because I'm not sure.

Great post Coach Vic. It would be a great game but Northland has superman and the Haven would have no answer.

Findlay had a ficticious ranking of number 1 in the nation...Northland is very good but had a few very close games in last years tourney run....Maybe "haven assisstants can get on here and do a match-up for us coach.

cologino wrote: Findlay had a ficticious ranking of number 1 in the nation...Northland is very good but had a few very close games in last years tourney run....Maybe "haven assisstants can get on here and do a match-up for us coach.

That would be welcomed. This years Northland team is better than last years. Winning close games is also a sign of a good team. Good teams don't wilt under the pressure of competition. Norrthland is a good team. No team is unbeatable. NONE. I just feel that in comparison with that Brookhaven squad that Northland would be triumphant in the that game at least 8 times out of 10. What makes Northland so strong is their ability to impose their will on the other team. Having no more than 2 teams score 60 or more points on you in 3 years while you average scoring 74 points a game is phenominal. That kind of defense and the rebounding of Sullinger is the key.

you are right Vic...Sullinger looked much improved to me, however, I had only seen him play 2x at the Fairgrounds and the state championship game...what is up at Findlay though.....they have no bench or what?

Yes, they did look good the other night. However, on Dec 20, you cannot begin comparing them as an all time best team in Ohio? You must have been kidding. IF they go undefeated and win a state title, get back at me. As anything can still happen...........RE: No way LBJ loses to Roger Bacon, right? Oops!!

september63 wrote: Yes, they did look good the other night. However, on Dec 20, you cannot begin comparing them as an all time best team in Ohio? You must have been kidding. IF they go undefeated and win a state title, get back at me. As anything can still happen...........RE: No way LBJ loses to Roger Bacon, right? Oops!!

That Roger Bacon team was stacked, but no one gave them a chance. Hell, earlier in the season, ASVSM only beat them by 7(I think). That Roger Bacon team is still one of the better "team" oriented teams that I have seen in the last 10 years.....them and that New Knoxville team from a couple years back.

East RUTS these kids.

jhiii

TCSoup wrote: 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

Yeah, those are the two teams I think of immediately. Of course, the Jerry Lucas Middletown teams were pretty decent, and there were the Hoskett/May teams in Dayton.

Just beat Oak Hill with Sullinger taken out of the game almost entirely. I reopen this thread, and restate my case...

This Northland team should finish undefeated and with a state championship, and a National #1 ranking. if that happens, there will be no debate.

Top team i the country St. Patrick just went down. Since Northland was #2 in most pulls, Northland likely will move to #1 and now has a legit chance for a national championship.