News-Herald Boys Basketball Top of the Crop 5

Euclid, Hawken, and Mentor lead the rankings

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The News-Herald has released its latest boys basketball Top of the Crop rankings, with Euclid, Hawken, and Mentor occupying the top three spots. Kenston and Kirtland round out the top 5, while Fairport, Gilmour, Chagrin Falls, and Harvey also make the list.

Why it matters

The News-Herald's boys basketball rankings are a closely watched barometer of high school basketball talent in the region, providing recognition for top teams and players.

The details

Euclid leads the rankings at No. 1 with a 12-6 record, followed by Hawken at No. 2 with a 14-4 mark and Mentor at No. 3 with a 12-4 record. Kenston comes in at No. 4 with a 16-2 record, and Kirtland rounds out the top 5 at No. 5 with a 13-2 record. Fairport, Gilmour, Chagrin Falls, and Harvey also made the list, while VASJ fell out of the top 10.

  • The rankings were released on February 5, 2026.

The players

Euclid

A high school basketball team located in Euclid, Ohio.

Hawken

A high school basketball team located in Hawken, Ohio.

Mentor

A high school basketball team located in Mentor, Ohio.

Kenston

A high school basketball team located in Kenston, Ohio.

Kirtland

A high school basketball team located in Kirtland, Ohio.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The News-Herald's boys basketball rankings provide a snapshot of the top teams in the region, highlighting the strong basketball talent and competitive nature of high school basketball in Northeast Ohio.