Boys Basketball: New-look DeSales Stallions aim for return to state

Atticus Schuler spent some time in the spotlight for the DeSales boys basketball team last season, but the 6-foot-7 senior forward also enjoyed a supporting role behind the program’s all-time leading scorer as the Stallions fell one win short of the Division II state championship.

Schuler scored a career-high 20 points against Reynoldsburg, a game Desmond Watson missed because of injury, and led the team with 17 in a late-season CCL contest at Hartley when Watson was held to 11.

Now that Watson, a two-time first-team all-state honoree who finished with 1,722 points, is at Davidson and a handful of other starters and key contributors also have graduated, fifth-year coach Pat Murphy has let Schuler know where he stands.

“This is his team,” Murphy said. “He’ll take our most shots and we’re asking him to play all five positions like (Watson) did. People know him and he’s embraced that role. It’s something he hasn’t had to do. He got to sit back and play off pretty good guys, but now he’s the guy where we’re playing off him.”

Schuler is embracing the challenge as DeSales tries to win a third consecutive district championship, which would be a program first, and its first state title since 1987.

“I still was somebody who looked up to the seniors on last year’s team. Now, I’m a leader on the team and with that comes big responsibilities,” said Schuler, a Westerville resident who is receiving attention from several Division II and III colleges. “It’s definitely a challenge, but it’s a fun challenge. I’m just playing all over the place and it’s something I’m embracing.”

Schuler is not the only player filling a different role.

Senior Michael Sabatino (5-10) is starting at shooting guard, while sophomore Michael Walker (5-10) takes over at point guard for Austin Mann, who now plays at Muskingum.

Another 6-7 senior, Cruz Sanchez, teams with Schuler to provide a formidable frontcourt while both are able to play closer to the perimeter.

“We have some pretty decent size and especially with the chemistry this team has, I like how we’re looking,” Sanchez said. “I definitely have worked on my ball handling, my shooting and being more aggressive, not being timid and taking more shots.”

Murphy praised Sabatino’s shooting prowess, citing his 21-point game on seven 3-pointers in the team’s postseason opener against Centennial last season.

“I feel like we could really put something together this year,” Sabatino said. “(Last year) is motivation. We all want to be right back where we were and that gives us the drive to keep pushing and know we can be back at state.”

dpurpura@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekDave

BEECHCROFT

•Coach: Humphrey Simmons, 10th season

•Top players: Javo Jordan, Amani Lyles, Antwoin Reed, J.J. Simmons, Jamari Strickland and Anthony Watkins

•Key losses: Demetrious Forte and Jaylen Hudson

•Last season: 11-3 overall

•2020-21 City-North standings: Beechcroft (7-0), Northland (6-1), Linden-McKinley (5-2), East (3-3), Centennial (2-5), Mifflin (2-5), Whetstone (1-5), International (1-6)

•2021 postseason: Def. Marion-Franklin 85-65; def. Lakewood 69-29; lost to Watterson 43-39 (2OT) in Division II district semifinal

•Outlook: After winning a district title in 2020 before the remainder of the postseason was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cougars won the City League championship and were the No. 3 seed but lost in a district semifinal last winter.

They plan to go further this season, with a senior class of Jordan (5-11, guard), Lyles (6-8, forward), Reed (6-6, forward), J.J. Simmons (5-10, guard), Strickland (6-1, guard) and Watkins (6-2, guard) leading the way.

Lyles and J.J. Simmons both averaged 21.5 points and were first-team all-district, and Reed averaged 8.0 points and was honorable mention all-district.

Strickland and Watkins should fill bigger roles after only playing the first half of last season because of the OHSAA transfer rule, while sophomores Aurelius Scott (5-10, guard) and Dominique Wise (5-10, guard) are expected to provide depth.

Joining Humphrey Simmons’ coaching staff is Roosevelt Osborne, who was Centennial’s head coach for 18 seasons.

•Quotable: “Everything has been going well. All six of our seniors came back from last year and they know the expectations and what they have to do. Our big goal is always to win our league and then go as far as we can. We really want to work hard and get over that hump.” — coach Simmons

—Jarrod Ulrey

DeSALES

•Coach: Pat Murphy, fifth season

•Top players: Michael Sabatino, Cruz Sanchez, Atticus Schuler and Michael Walker

•Key losses: Obed Achirem, Austin Mann and Desmond Watson

•Last season: 19-8 overall

•2020-21 CCL standings: St. Charles (6-2), DeSales (5-3), Hartley and Ready (4-4), Watterson (1-7)

•2021 postseason: Def. Centennial 61-27; def. Columbus South 65-33; def. Jonathan Alder 42-38; def. Chillicothe Unioto 40-37; def. Byesville Meadowbrook 58-44; def. Dayton Chaminade Julienne 51-34; lost to Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 72-50 in Division II state final

•Outlook: Sanchez and Schuler, both 6-7 seniors, will mostly play inside but likely see time at almost every position as they assume leadership of a team that fell one win short of the state championship. Both are being recruited by Division II and III schools after starting as juniors and serving as inside presences and secondary scorers behind Watson, who scored a program-record 1,722 points and was first-team all-state each of the past two years.

Senior Sabatino (5-10) will be at shooting guard with sophomore Walker (5-9) at point guard.

Junior Isaac Pekarcik (6-1, guard), sophomore Jack Elgin (6-3, forward) and freshmen P.J. Noles (6-2, guard) and Carter Ward (6-0, guard) are among several other candidates to see varsity time.

Quotable: “We’re not content with our run last year. We want another run this year. Every guy is coming ready to work every single day. ... I can’t wait to see what this year brings us.” — Schuler

—Dave Purpura

NORTHLAND

•Coach: Tihon Johnson, first season

•Top players: Tabree Beacham, Davion Bridges, Rob Dorsey, DeAngelo Mitchell and Marcus Parker

•Key losses: Makhale Massey, Stephan Reavish and Shemar Watson

•Last season: 7-2 overall

•2021 postseason: Def. Canal Winchester 78-72; lost to Gahanna 67-45 in Division I district semifinal

•Outlook: After Sean Taylor stepped down following a 10-year tenure that included guiding the Vikings to consecutive district titles from 2013-15, Johnson has become a head coach for the first time.

A 2001 East graduate who played for Idaho and then competed overseas until 2020, Johnson has former Africentric and Harvest Prep coach Mike Thornton and former East teammate Cyrus Smith on his coaching staff.

His first team is led by Dorsey, a 5-11 senior guard who averaged 19.0 points and was third-team all-district last season.

Beacham is a 6-1 senior guard who averaged 8.5 points and Mitchell (6-4, senior forward) and Bridges (5-10, junior guard) also are key returnees.

Senior Darvon Jeter (6-3, forward) and junior guards Drew Roland and Parker also are among the top players.

Northland lost a four-member senior class that featured Makhale Massey, who averaged 14.0 points and was honorable mention all-district.

•Quotable: “I didn’t really envision myself as a head coach. I was more into a training role and personal development, but I think it was a calling on my life. I got one of the best ever as a mentor (in Thornton). It should definitely be exciting.” — Johnson

—Jarrod Ulrey

WATTERSON

•Coach: Vince Lombardo, 29th season

•Top players: Charlie Lewis, Gilbert Oduro, Cole Rhett, Owen Samenuk and Seven Scott

•Key losses: Davis Boone, Noah Grayem, Noah Gruver, Jake Hoying, Sam Intihar and Nick Malagreca

•Last season: 12-16 overall

•2021 postseason: Def. Bexley 47-31; def. Linden-McKinley 59-45; def. Beechcroft 43-39 (2OT); def. Heath 44-35. def. Cincinnati McNicholas 48-41; lost to Dayton Chaminade Julienne 66-46 in Division II regional final

•Outlook: Although they were led by their senior class a season ago when they captured a district title despite being the No. 13 seed, the Eagles return one of their top inside players in Rhett, a 6-6 junior forward who was honorable mention all-district, and Lewis, a 6-0 senior point guard who also was a key contributor.

Scott (6-4, junior forward) had begun moving into a prominent role before an ankle injury shortened his season, while Oduro (6-5, senior forward/center) and Samenuk (6-1, sophomore wing player) also are expected to play bigger roles.

Juniors Dan Frommeyer (6-1, wing player), Pete Mangold (6-1, guard), Ryan Mulligan (5-11, guard) and Ryan Rudzinski (6-4, wing player) have been with the program since they were freshmen. Sophomore Blaise Ohlin (5-11, guard) is another looking to contribute.

•Quotable: “We have some nice experience returning. With the success we had in the tournament, it’s something our guys enjoyed and hopefully can build upon. Potentially we have a nice, balanced attack with good inside players and some kids that can shoot the ball outside. I like our guys. They’re great kids that will work hard for us. We play against a very challenging schedule. We’re going to be patient as we learn some things and hopefully play our best at the end of the year.” — Lombardo

—Jarrod Ulrey

WHETSTONE

•Coach: Dean Washington, third season

•Top players: Jaquelny Cook, Shaiman Diawara, Jasper Janson-Tidd, Patrick Knostman, Jasiri Gibson and Alejandro Soto

•Key losses: Caleb Brigle and Alex Hurd

•Last season: 2-8 overall

•2021 postseason: Lost to Gahanna 65-19 in first round of Division I district tournament

•Outlook: With more than 30 athletes competing in the program, Whetstone has a freshman team for the first time under Washington.

Although Brigle, a second-team all-league honoree who averaged 18.4 points, was lost to graduation, key contributors such as Diawara (sophomore guard), who was honorable mention all-league, Gibson (senior guard), Knostman (junior forward) and Cook (junior guard) have returned.

Janson-Tidd (senior guard), Soto (junior guard), Noah Knostman (sophomore wing player), Aiden O’Carroll (sophomore forward) and Finn Overbeck (sophomore guard) are others looking to contribute. O’Carroll is 6-4 and Diawara is 6-3.

New assistant coach Troy Mundy, who played for Gahanna and then at Ohio Christian, has been a “valuable asset” to the staff, according to Washington.

•Quotable: “We were a young team last year and we’re still young this year, but it’s going well. We need to figure out who we are. We need to get into the weight room. A lot of these kids were very involved over the summer, went to camp and had some instructional time. Their games have improved. Are we ready yet? We’re better and I think we can become more competitive than we have been.” — Washington

—Jarrod Ulrey

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Boys Basketball: New-look DeSales Stallions aim for return to state