AKRON, Ohio — The high school boys basketball season begins Nov. 30.
Practices are under way, and so are cleveland.com’s preview visits to the top area programs. Visits will continue through Nov. 21. Previews by division and the preseason Top 25 will be unveiled the week of Nov. 26.
Check out the video above and a capsule below on St. Vincent-St. Mary.
Coach: Dru Joyce (18th season)
2017-18 record: 21-8 (Division II state champion)
Returning starters: Chris Painter (5-10, Sr., G), Seth Wilson (6-2, So., G), Lunden McDay (6-3, Sr., G/F), Keyshawn Jones (6-5, Sr., F)
In the rotation: Darius Cone (6-3, Sr., G/F), Malaki Branham (6-5, So., F), Isaiah Ingol (5-11, Jr., G), Josh Jones (5-10, Sr., G), Nate Snipes (6-3, Jr., F), Jordan Addison (6-3, Sr., G/F), Noah Peeples (6-2, So., F), Marcus Johnson (6-4, Jr., F/C), Savion Washington (6-9, Jr., F/C), Daylen Burney (6-4, So., F), Mayco Williams (6-2, So., G), Luke Lindsay (6-2, Jr., G)
Outlook: STVM moves up to Division I following a second straight OHSAA state championship in D-II. The Fighting Irish have a record eight state crowns. Could they add more with a tougher tournament draw? Joyce says the promotion, which came with OHSAA's yearly competitive balance enrollment multiplier, could impact their road early in the postseason. However, the competition is not new to a program with a D-I heavy schedule. STVM travels in the first week to D-I state champ Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, St. Ignatius on New Year's Eve, plus faces Lorain, St. Edward, Archbishop Hoban and Huber Heights Wayne — to name a few — after the calendar turns to 2019. Last season, STVM celebrated in Columbus with its youngest team since LeBron James led a freshman quartet to the crown. It now has two of the state's better sophomores with Wilson and Branham, plus six seniors, led by an Ohio University commit in McDay.
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
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