cardzfan1234
Well-known member
In lieu of a thread on an individual team (probably the first time I didn't start a Mentor one in quite some time), I will stick with a league thread. Hopefully by January we will see the GCC in full swing. While not quite as deep last year with the departure of Shaker Heights (a team not as good on paper as they were a season ago), the GCC is still one of the better big school leagues in Ohio. The LEL is certainly more talented thanks to Shaker joining and the gobbles of transfers from the defunct Senate. But top to bottom, I would take my chances with the GCC against most leagues.
Matt Goul's Cleveland.com preseason rankings:
4. Mentor
5. Medina
6. Solon
16. Brunswick
In terms of standout players, here are the ones that made Goul's cut for top 50 to watch:
Luke Chicone (Mentor)...on the short list for Mr Basketball candidates
Jonah Waag (Mentor...transfer from VASJ)
Corey Tripp (Medina)...one of the best guards in Ohio
Sam Marbury (Solon)...the only non-senior on this list
Marcus Steele (Solon)...a four year varsity player
Marquis Barnett (Brunswick)
Tre Massey (Brunswick)....coach's son, some call him the best shooter in Ohio
MarSuan Robinson (Elyria)
If a full season endures, it is all about Mentor/Medina. Those games will almost certainly determine the winner of the GCC. Mentor and Medina graduate some stellar All-Ohio players, but they also have plenty of talent returning. I didn't think too highly of Mentor's chances to win the league in 2021, but the addition of two big transfers (Waag and Steven Key, a 15 ppg scorer from Euclid) along with Ian Kipp coming back to basketball has really changed their outlook. Luke Chicone has the guys to play with and compete with some of the best in Ohio. Corey Tripp and the Bees will be one of the top teams in NEO.
Solon is ranked higher than I expected, but they have one of the best coaches in NEO along with a couple experienced and talented returnees in Steele/Marbury. Brunswick is solid too. Elyria is likely the 5th place team in the league. I think Euclid is really going to struggle. Transfers and coaching changeover has really hurt that program. Strongsville has long been a basement team in the GCC. I don't know anything about them other than to expect more of the same.
Matt Goul's Cleveland.com preseason rankings:
4. Mentor
5. Medina
6. Solon
16. Brunswick
In terms of standout players, here are the ones that made Goul's cut for top 50 to watch:
Luke Chicone (Mentor)...on the short list for Mr Basketball candidates
Jonah Waag (Mentor...transfer from VASJ)
Corey Tripp (Medina)...one of the best guards in Ohio
Sam Marbury (Solon)...the only non-senior on this list
Marcus Steele (Solon)...a four year varsity player
Marquis Barnett (Brunswick)
Tre Massey (Brunswick)....coach's son, some call him the best shooter in Ohio
MarSuan Robinson (Elyria)
If a full season endures, it is all about Mentor/Medina. Those games will almost certainly determine the winner of the GCC. Mentor and Medina graduate some stellar All-Ohio players, but they also have plenty of talent returning. I didn't think too highly of Mentor's chances to win the league in 2021, but the addition of two big transfers (Waag and Steven Key, a 15 ppg scorer from Euclid) along with Ian Kipp coming back to basketball has really changed their outlook. Luke Chicone has the guys to play with and compete with some of the best in Ohio. Corey Tripp and the Bees will be one of the top teams in NEO.
Solon is ranked higher than I expected, but they have one of the best coaches in NEO along with a couple experienced and talented returnees in Steele/Marbury. Brunswick is solid too. Elyria is likely the 5th place team in the league. I think Euclid is really going to struggle. Transfers and coaching changeover has really hurt that program. Strongsville has long been a basement team in the GCC. I don't know anything about them other than to expect more of the same.