Ranking the top eight high school boys basketball teams in the Greater Akron area

As the calendar ticks closer to February, the postseason in high school basketball draws near.

With that in mind, the USA Network looked at the Greater Akron area and came up with an elite eight.

The 2023-24 season has brought parity to the area with no clear-cut favorite.

Here’s what we came up with.

1. Green Bulldogs (10-3)

The Bulldogs’ losses came to Brunswick, Canton McKinley and Jackson by a total of 12 points. Those three teams are a combined 30-10. Green sits at No. 7 in the MaxPreps RPI ratings, which would give the Bulldogs a first-round bye if they wanted it.

De’Aerion Holley and the Barberton Magics sit atop the Suburban League American Conference with three weeks left in the season.

2. Barberton Magics (12-2)

The Magics won 11 games in a row after losing to Revere by a point to open the season. They have quality wins over Highland and Aurora. Hoover (9-4) was their only other loss. Barberton-Revere II takes place in Jack Greynolds Gymnasium soon after being postponed Jan. 19.

Buchtel could be poised to make another postseason run in an attempt to secure back-to-back state championships.

3. Buchtel Griffins (8-3)

The reigning state champs have losses to Division I opponents Pickerington North, Westerville North and Lutheran West, who are a combined 33-9. The Griffins have won seven of their eight of their last 10.

Niles Nuru has been a force for Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy this season.

4. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (14-1)

The Royals’ lone loss came to Louisville, which is ranked second in the Division I MaxPreps RPI rankings. They have an impressive 75-67 win over Whitehall Yearling and a 61-52 overtime victory over district finalist Brush. CVCA is currently ranked third in the Division II RPI poll.

Tyler Harrington, left, and Stow could be a tough out when the postseason starts.

5. Stow Bulldogs (8-6)

The Bulldogs have solid wins over Jackson, Twinsburg and Hudson. That said, they’ve dropped three of their last six games. Still, Dave Close-coached teams are never an easy out when it comes to the postseason.

St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dru Joyce II always has the Fighting Irish ready when it matters most.

6. St. Vincent-St. Mary Fighting Irish (7-10)

This is a very different year for Coach Dru Joyce II, but there is room for a postseason run. The Fighting Irish always play a tough schedule, and narrow losses to Reynoldsburg, Lutheran West and Brush show just how close STVM is. Games against Stow, Walsh and Medina in the next three weeks will show just who the Irish are.

Hoban coach TK Griffith holds up the state championship trophy during a pep rally at the school’s gym on March 24, 2023.

7. Archbishop Hoban Knights (8-6)

The reigning Division I state champions went through a bad stretch in which they lost four of five but have won six of their last eight with solid wins over Centerville (10-4) and Walsh Jesuit.

Norton has already avenged its loss in the Metro Athletic Conference. How far can the Panthers go in the postseason?

8. Norton Panthers (13-2)

The Panthers opened the season with a five-point loss to Streetsboro but got revenge with a three-point win last week at home. They’re currently on a five-game winning streak and have two wins over Coventry, which is second in the Metro Athletic Conference.

On the cusp: Highland (8-3), Hudson (8-3), Revere (9-5), Twinsburg (8-4)

Contact Brad Bournival at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ranking the top eight high school boys basketball teams in the Greater Akron area