I concur. This season, a strength of the Wildcats team was its depth and balance. To be a strong contender at the state level next season, the Cats will need 3-4 good scorers for balance + continued good defense + continued good depth.
In addition to Woidke and Friery returning, Kalli Johnson could have a break-out season as one of the better players in NE Ohio. He’s talented and very athletic, 6-2/6-3ish, can score and rebound + was one of the best on-ball defenders the Cats deployed this season. He played only 10-15 minutes/game, considering all the senior experience in the playing rotation and he was new to the school/team. For example, he was named ‘player of the game’ vs. Buchtel as a ‘flat’ Wildcat team (playing the 2nd of a back-to-back, after an intense game vs LuWest the night before) trailed by 11 points at halftime. In the 2nd half, he energized the team and led a comeback with 10 points, multiple steals and assists. In that game, one could see his upside. He’s the son of a veteran college coach (Kwanza Johnson, who joined Cleveland State as the assistant coach this season). His growth and development will be important if the Cats are to make a strong run next season.
Who else could step up next season? For the upcoming seniors, Jimmy Thomas likely will start with Pearce Gibbs and Conor Mangan playing a good amount. Mangan is the only one with height at 6-5. From the JV team, it should be current sophs Alex Mack (outstanding outside shooter, brought up to varsity in late season) and RJ Jones + current freshmen Sami Dari and Steph Bohanon + possibly Jahi Hobson and Charlie Blashko (both brought up to play JV during the season). Hopefully they develop and there are some growth spurts from their current 6-1 to 6-3 level heights. As you say, there’s some talent and we’ll see how they may develop and where that may go.
I think the Wildcats are in the mix as a contender next season. Next season is the 7 division arrangement for the state tournament. Most of the other top teams in ‘new’ D1 also bring back top level players and some have 3-4 starters returning. If anyone opts up to D1, it likely would be Richmond His with 4 starters returning. There will be challenges and one always needs some luck.
A back-to-back state championship in D1/class A basketball in Ohio is really hard to achieve – it’s only been done 4x since 1960: Columbus East (‘68-’69), Cincinnati Elder (‘73-’74), Canton McKinley (‘05-’06), Cincinnati Moeller (‘18-’19). In the 1950s decade, it was accomplished 2x by Middletown (Jerry Lucas era) and once by Cleveland East Tech.
The Wildcats have a good nucleus to start and there is a group of kids that could develop. This past season – JVs were 19-3 and the 2 freshmen teams were 37-4, combined. The program has a good track record.