CLEVELAND, Ohio -- This season could end with a first in Ohio high school boys basketball. If Villa Angela-St. Joseph wins a state title, it will become the first school in the state to win a championship in all four divisions.
The Vikings cut down the nets in Division IV last season but now move to Division III. As they make the jump, they are not only a defending state champion but perhaps a better team too.
Vikings coach Babe Kwasniak brings back a talented and experienced group that is hungry for another title. Gone is Duane Gibson Jr., who is playing at Evansville, but Villa Angela-St. Joseph has plenty of pieces to pick up the slack.
Leading the conversation is 6-foot-9 Carlton Bragg. The junior forward is ranked 10th in his class nationally and is receiving interest from most of college basketball's top programs, including Kansas.
Despite his size, Bragg is more than just a post player. He's a good shooter who keeps a defense guessing.
Joining him are Dererk Pardon and Brian Parker. Pardon is another terrific forward who should team up with Bragg to create one the area's best frontcourt combinations. Parker is a guard who will be looked at to fill some of the roles Gibson provided last season.
With a schedule that includes games against some of the top teams in the country, the Vikings may take some lumps throughout the year but should be prepared for the postseason.
Villa Angela-St. Joseph has a terrific core of players who grew up together, and their chemistry is one of the reasons this team has a great chance of repeating as state champions.
Contact high school sports reporter David Cassilo by email (dcassilo@cleveland.com) or Twitter (@dcassilo). Or log in and leave a message in the comments section below.
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